WllllAil  H.JIlllS 


r 


GIFT  OF. 
niliam  H.    rlills  | 


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THE 


4^' 


BY 


Qccotih    (Kiritictt. 


CINCINNATI, 
H.    m.    RULISON, 

QUEEN   CITY    PUBLISHING   HOUSE, 


1855 


.  »»•  tf 


ff-% 


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1% 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the   year  1851,  by 

WILLIAM  VV.  FOSDICK, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  District  of  Ohio. 


£.     MORGAN     <b     CO., 
STEEEOTYPERS,  PKINTER8  AND  BINDERS, 

111  Main  Stkkkt. 


TO  MY  SISTER 

JULIA    DEAN, 

THIS    LITTLE    ROMANCE    IS    DEDICATED; 

IT  IS  A  GARLAND  WOVEN  BY  THE  FAIRY,  FANCY; 
•      AND  AT  THY  FEET  I  LAY  IT, 
WITH  THE  AMARANTH,  THAT  BLOOMS  ON  THE  BANKS  OF  THE   HEART 

A  brother's  love. 

WILLIAM  W.  FOSDIck. 
(iii) 


602178 


INTRODUCTION, 


Time,  like  distance,  lends  enchantment  to  the  view,  and  the  pictures  of 
the  past,  seen  through  the  mellow  light  of  centuries,  become  soft  and  beau- 
tiful to  the  siglit,  like  the  shadowj  outlines  of  far  off  mountain  peaks,  whose 
purple  heads  half  hide  themselves  behind  a  screen  of  clouds.  From  the 
ruined  temples  of  Rome,  and  the  sacred  groves  of  Greece,  the  voice  of  Genius 
has,  time  and  again,  called  forth  the  spirits  of  Truth  and  Fiction,  who  have 
walked  those  sequestered  valleys  and  retired  shades,  hand  in  hand,  since  the 
hours  when  Socrates  spoke  his  words  of  wisdom,  and  Sappho  sang  her  wild 
and  witching  lays  ;  and  though  a  thousand  feet  have  trod  the  Arcadian  vale, 
yet  still  its  flowers  are  ever  fresh,  its  forests  green  and  glorious,  and  old 
Olympus,  with  his  snow-clad  crown,  is  yet  the  majestic  monarch  unshorn  of 
his  grandeur,  and  from  whose  iron-armed  oaks  the  rushing  wings  of  Time 
have  not  swept  a  single  leaf  into  the  stream  of  history,  but  has  floated  away 
to  posterity  stamped  with  its  own  story,  a  frail,  but  imperishable  chronicle, 
to  tell  of  Greece  forever ! 

But  there  is  no  Genius  presiding  over  the  mighty  world  of  the  "West ;  no 
nymph  rises  from  America's  translucent  lakes ;  no  satyrs  drink  their  wine 
and  hold  their  revels  with  fauns  upon  her  hills,  nay  not  the  very  violet  whose 
tear-filled  eye  of  azure  gazes  modestly  upon  the  moss,  has  ever  known  the 
tiny  fairies  to  collect  under  the  canopy  of  its  emerald  leaves,  nor  the  little 
elfin  people  to  sing  their  songs  in  the  moonlight  by  the  side  of  her  silver 
streams.  But  yet  the  thoughtful  traveller,  in  his  wanderings  in  this  mis- 
called New  "World,  will  alight  upon  spots  in  the  deep  recesses  of  the  forest, 
where  the  gigantic  Spirit  of  Mystery  throws  from  his  dark  and  extended 
wings  a  perpetual  twilight  upon  the  wilderness,  and  guards  the  sacred 
secrecy  of  the  place  from  the  inquisitive  eye  of  man. 

Of  these  places  none  are  more  remarkable  than  those  spots  where  the  ruins 
of  Copan,  Palenque,  and  Tula,  stand  like  so  many  statues  with  their  ex- 
tended hands  pointing  to  a  wreck  from  whence  a  people  has  ".mysteriously 
and  silently  ps^ssed  away;"  the  dumb  indexes  from  whom  no  answer  can  be 
drawn  ;  the  speechless  marbles  which  cannot  tell  the  history  or  fate  of  those 
who  reared  tlien^ ;  the  moss-grown  monuments,  which  stand  skeleton  like ; 
the  organic  remaiiis  of  the  past ;  the  petrified  survivors  of  a  lost  race,  like 
the  fabled  inhabitants  of  the  city  in  the  Arabian  Nights,  whose  queen  turned 
lier  subjects  to  stone  by  a  word :  Here  is  a  wreck,  in  following  out  whose 

(V) 


Vl  INTRODUCTION. 

silent  and  subterranean  labyrinths,  conjecture  loses  itself;  and  here  is  the 
scene  where,  following  the  footsteps  of  his  fancy,  one  may  chance  to  see  the 
Spirit  of  Romance  as  it  glides  among  the  ruins,  and  hear  the  echo  of  long- 
lost  voices  speaking  from  the  hollow  depths  of  the  buried  temple  and  the 
broken  arch. 

At  the  very  entrance  of  this  home  of  Mystery,  Truth  halts,  her  staff  find- 
ing no  firm  foundation  for  her  foot,  and  gazing  into  its  dark  and  shadowy 
sphere  she  grows  bewildered,  and  turns  once  more  to  the  clear,  bright  scenes 
of  certainty.  Therefore,  with  the  light-footed  Fancy  must  we  enter  these 
hallowed  realms  of  antiquity  and  imagination ;  treading  softly  through  the 
sacred  aisles  of  her  mysterious  temples  and  their  tombs,  lest  we  awaken  the 
wrath  of  the  angel  that  guards  the  silent  sleepers ;  lightly  lifting  the  ancient 
volume  which  holds  their  code  of  laws,  lest  in  our  rude  haste  to  bnish  away 
the  dust,  it  crumble  in  our  hands.  And  gently  must  the  chords  of  her  long 
silent  harp  be  struck,  or  perchance  it  will  jar  discordant,  and  be  snapped  in 
twain  forever. 

Then  by  the  beautiful  margin  of  Tezcuco's  Elysian  lake  must  the  Spirit 
of  Fancy  stand  and  gaze  upon  the  glassy  waters,  and  see  mirrored  '.n  its 
depths  a  shadowy  reflection  of  the  cities  of  Mexico  and  Tezcuco,  as  they 
stood  some  five  centuries  since  upon  the  opposite  banks  of  the  same  lake. 

But,  alas !  the  faded  glories  of  that  golden  age  can  never  be  revived ;  no 
magic  spell  can  conjure  up  a  clear,  consistent  history;  things  can  but  be 
seen  as  in  a  dream,  a  fairy  pageant,  wherein  the  men  are  as  shadows  passing ; 
ghosts,  which  must  be  reanimated,  and  made  to  enact  an  imaginary  drama 
of  their  own  existence.  The  beings  of  to-day  must  be  forgotten,  and  the 
people  of  the  past  must  fill  their  places ;  the  present  fabrics  on  the  sites  of 
these  cities  must  pass  away,  and  from  out  their  sepulchre  of  ages,  the  ancient 
palaces  must  rise,  not  dark  with  mould,  nor  green  with  moss ;  not  crumbled 
by  the  canker  of  decay,  but  bold  and  beautiful,  the  polished  masses  of  ma- 
sonry which  belonged  to  the  most  enlightened  race  of  the  West.  The  em- 
pire of  the  Aztecs  (by  whom  the  three  states,  of  Mexico,  Tezcuco,  and  Tla- 
copan,  under  the  general  name  of  Anahuac,  was  holden),  lasted  about  two 
hundred  years,  when  it  was  conquered  by  the  Spaniards  under  Cortes,  being 
the  same  territory  which  had  been  possessed  by  the  Toltecs,  a  race  that 
passed  mysteriously  away,  leaving  a  multitude  of  monuments  which  marked 
them  as  a  mighty  and  wonderful  people  who  never,  according  to  histo- 
rians, stained  their  altars  with  human  blood,  nor  debased  their  banquets 
with  the  still  more  horrible  custom  of  cannibalism,  as  was  the  case  with 
their  Aztec  successors,  and  also  to  a  certain,  but  much  smaller  ext<^nt,  with 
the  Tezcucans.  The  Toltecs  who  disappeared  so  mysteriously  and  unac- 
countably, were  in  all  probability,  the  founders  of  those  vast  cities  whose 
solid  superstructures  of  stone,  and  giant  works  of  architecture,  rival  in 
beauty  and  magnificence,  even  in  their  ruins,  the  mighty  wrecks  which  lie 
scattered  in  the  desert  sands  of  Egypt :  but  whence  these  Toltecs  came,  or 
whither  they  have  vanished,  must  remain  forever  an  inscrutable  secret ;  all 
that  we  know,  irs  that  a  wonderful  race,  far  advanced  in  civilization,  onco 


INTRODUCTION.  VU 

held  their  home  in  tlie  great  valley  of  Mexico  ;  but  when  we  seek  to  know 
their  habits  and  their  history,  an  tinseeu  hand  is  stretched  forth,  and  an  im- 
penetrable curtain  of  clouds  is  drawn  across  the  sun  of  their  glory,  and  we 
are  left  standing  in  double  darkness,  without  a  star  to  light  the  pathway  of 
our  wanderings. 

He  who  would  have  seen  the  Aztec  empire  in  its  prime,  should  have  stood, 
about  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century,  upon  some  pinnacle  of  that 
mountain  wall  which  fences  in  the  matchless  vale  of  Mexico ;  from  such  a 
height  he  might  have  seen  the  fair  lake  of  Tezcuco,  that  miniature  salt  sea, 
and  the  fresh  tide  of  Chalco  the  sweet  water,  with  other  bright  sheets  of 
silver,  shining  along  the  valley  for  seventy  miles.  Into  this  vale  the  Aztecs 
descended  in  1325;  they  had  wandered  from  some  far  country  to  the  north, 
and  having  borne  a  thousand  toils,  saw  at  last,  upon  the  margin  of  lake 
Tezcuco,  a  fair  omen,  which  told  them  that  their  pilgrimage  was  finished ;  it 
was  an  eagle  holding  a  serpent  in  his  claws,  as  he  sat  upon  a  cactus,  or  nopal. 
Here,  amid  the  reeds  and  upon  the  salt  marsh,  they  laid  the  foundation  of 
an  empire,  which,  in  an  existence  of  three  hundred  years,  rose  to  the  pitch 
of  occidental  grandeur  with  a  rapidity  unparalleled.  Upon  the  islands  of 
Accocolco,  whose  bog-like  character  required  them  to  bring  stone  from  the 
main  land,  they  planted  the  first  rude  huts  which  were  to  shield  that  home- 
less race  from  the  opulent  tribes  around,  into  whose  territory  they  had 
penetrated,  and  upon  whose  terra  Jirma  they  were  not  allowed  to  rest.  Years 
of  privation,  misery,  and  hardship,  rolled  by,  and  the  huts  of  the  wanderers 
became  safe  habitations,  and  handsome  houses :  the  miry  marsh  was  now 
the  firm  foundation  for  solid  superstructures,  and  the  arms  of  the  Aztecs  had 
made  the  name  of  the  poor  wanderers  among  the  water-flags  a  thing  for  terror 
and  respect.  By  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century  their  sway  extended 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  J'^acific,  from  the  region  of  the  barbarous  Otomies  upon 
the  north,  to  the  farthest  limits  of  Guatemala  upon  the  south ;  their  language 
was  spoken  by  seven  tribes  in  and  around  the  great  valley;  they  were  the 
Sochimilcas,  Tepanecas,  Colhuas,  Tlahuicas,  Mexicans,  and  Tlascalans ;  the 
latter  tribe  threw  off  their  allegiance,  and  repulsed,  by  repeated  defeats,  the 
other  six  tribes,  and  established  themselves  as  an  independent  republic, 
some  seventy  miles  from  the  city  of  Tenochtitlan,  or  Mexico,  where  they 
remained  the  rivals  for  years,  and  ultimately  became  the  cause  of  the  final 
overthrow  and  downfall  of  the  Aztec  power. 

It  was  a  glorious  view  from  the  mountain  heights  in  the  opening  of  the 
sixteenth  century,  to  see  this  Eden-like  valley  surrounded  by  a  chain  of 
porphyritic  mountains,  whose  purple  heads  in  the  distance,  through  the  un- 
clouded atmosphere,  seemed  to  lean  against  skies  of  pure  ultrapiarine ;  far 
away  to  the  south-east  Popocatapetl,  though  distant  more  than  thirty  miles, 
shot  its  shaft  of  snow,  like  a  shining  spear,  high  and  glittering  into  the 
bright  blue  skies ;  and  hard  by  his  side,  in  her  spotless  shroud  of  a  thousand 
years,  stood  Iztaccihuatl,  the  white  woman,  his  silent  partner,  who  with 
him  overlooked  the  land ;  the  speechless  watchers  of  centuries  in  their  flight 
to  Eternity ! 


Vm  INTRODUCTION. 

It  was  a  rare  sight  to  gaze  upon  those  lovely  lakes  with  their  Eljsian 
islands,  and  forests  filled  with  flowers  floating  upon  the  waves ;  gardens 
riding  at  anchor  upon  the  tide,  or  moving  away  upon  the  waters  like  a  Nau- 
tilus in  full  sail :  for  the  grass,  with  its  matted  roots,  and  the  thousand  kinds 
of  tropical  plants  and  herbs,  here  wove  together  their  fibres  and  formed  a 
network,  which  caught  the  decaying  portions  of  a  luxuriant  vegetation,  and 
"was  perpetually  forming  a  new  mould,  from  which  sprang  up  innumerable 
plants  and  trees ;  and  this  soil  became  so  fertile  and  firm  that  the  Aztecs 
found  it  invaluable  for  culture ;  and  in  the  midst  of  these  swimming  groves 
the  broad  leaves  of  the  maize,  and  other  crops,  fluttered  in  the  ever  tempe- 
rate air  which  fanned  that  delightful  region.  Scattered  over  the  lake,  the 
fiishermen  in  their  canoes  pursued  their  peaceful  calling,  and  the  crafty  fowl- 
ers laid  their  nets  and  snares  for  the  myriads  upon  myriads  of  aquatic  birds 
which  frequented  the  grass,  the  reeds,  and  the  flags,  which  grew  in  and 
upon  the  borders  of  those  saline  marshes ;  and  others  might  be  seen  catching 
certain  snails,  and  water-flies,  the  eggs  of  which  latter  were  esteemed  a  deli- 
cacy in  those  days,  as  the  famous  birds'  nests  are  at  present  with  the  Chinese. 
In  this  mimic  sea,  stood  the  Venice  of  the  West,  lifting  her  thousand  temples 
and  palaces  out  of  the  blue  bosom  of  the  waters,  and  along  her  streets  ran  ca- 
nals, to  whose  brinks  the  solid  pavements  of  stone  were  laid ;  stretching  away 
from  the  city,  through  the  lake,  to  the  main  land,  ran  three  gre»at  causeways 
of  stone,  wide  enough  for  ten  horsemen  abreast,  with  an  occasional  hiatus, 
over  which  bridges  were  thrown,  which  might  be  removed  in  case  of  inva- 
sion from  an  enemy.  These  causeways  led,  one  two  miles  west,  to  Tlacopan ; 
another,  seven  miles  soutli,  to  Iztapalapan  ;  which  city  stood  on  a  peninsula 
separating  lake  Tezcuco  from  Chalco ;  the  third  great  causeway  led  to  the 
north,  three  miles,  towards  Tepejacac.  In  addition  to  these,  there  was 
another  grand  work  of  masonry,  the  royal  aqueducts,  which  led  the  water 
into  the  city,  across  the  lake  from  the  southwest,  towards  the  di.stant  hill 
of  Chapoltepec.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  lake,  and  fifteen  miles  to  the 
east  of  the  city  of  Mexico,  stood  its  rival  in  beauty  and  magnificence,  Tez- 
cuco, the  Athens  of  America,  placed  like  a  gem  upon  the  crown  and  border 
of  the  lake,  and  containing,  at  that  time,  according  to  the  historians,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  inhabitants.  It  was  reared  upon  the  ruins  of  a 
city,  the  very  names  of  whose  builders  are  as  uncertain  and  baseless  as 
shadows.  The  houses  were  of  a  beautiful  blood-red  stone,  light  and  porous 
in  its  character,  usually  two  stories  in  heiglit,  with  flat  roofs,  and  around 
the  upper  walls  ran  a  terrace  from  which  they  could  command  a  view  of  the 
streets.  Countless  and  elegant  were  the  palaces  which  adorned  this  superb 
city,  and  near  it,  upon  the  hill  of  Tezcozinco,  was  the  fanious  garden  and 
pleasure  palace  of  the  Tezcucan  kings.*  The  city  of  Mexico  was  laid  off 
in  perfectly  parallel  streets,  and  like  Tezcuco,  huill  in  the  most  symmetrical 
order.     Its  dwellings  were  so  arranged  that  in  front  they  faced  upon  the 


*  "  It  was  the  city  where  the  Mexican  language  was  spoken  in  its  greatest  purity  and  pei- 
fection,  where  the  best  artists  were  found,  and  where  poets,  orators,  and  historians  most 
abounded." — Clavigero. 


INTRODUCTION.  '  IX 

public  street,  and  in  the  rear  upon  the  canal ;  tlieir  arcliitecture  was  exquisite 
in  taste,  and  so  common  were  these  noble  structures  that  there  seemed  one  line 
of  palaces  in  every  direction.  Towering  liigh  above  all,  in  the  centre  of  the 
city,  surrounded  by  an  immense  wall,  with  sculptured  serpents  winding  over 
the  parapet,  and  occupying  tlie  space  of  forty  four  acres,  stood  the  grand 
Temple,  the  Teocallis,  or  House  of  God,  tlie  vast  theatre  of  the  idolatrous 
worship  of  the  Aztecs,  with  forty  other  inferior  temples  in  the  same  enclo- 
sure, which  space  was  paved  with  stones,  and  made  as  smooth  as  it  could 
be  polished;  to  the  wall,  which  was  eight  feet  high,  there  wore  four  gates 
facing  the  cardinal  points  of  tlie  compass ;  the  main  temple  was  thfee  hun- 
dred and  twenty  feet  square,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  high  ;  upon 
its  square,  flat  top,  rose  a  tower  fifty  six  feet  higher,  the  whole  assuming  a 
pyramidal  form  from  a  stairway,  or  flight  of  stairs,  running  round  the  out- 
side of  the  temple,  forming,  as  it  were,  live  difterent  stories.  This  was  the 
Temple  of  Huitzilopotchtli,  or  Mexitli,  the  Mars  of  Mexican  worship,  the 
scene  of  sacrifice,  whose  blood- drenched  altar-stone  smoked  with  a  cata- 
logue of  victims,  so  fearful  that  credulity  shrinks  back  amazed  at  the  bare 
suggestion  of  their  number.  In  the  tower  which  stood  upon  the  top  of  the 
temple  was  the  sanctuary  of  the  idol,  who  is  thus  curiously  described  by  an 
ancient  writer.  "With  a  shield  in  his  left  hand,  a  spear  in  his  right,  and  a 
crest  of  green  feathers  on  his  head,  his  left  leg  adorned  witli  feathers,  and 
his  face  and  arras  streaked  with  blue  lines,  and  also  a  twisted  pine  in  his 
hand.  His  stature  was  of  gigantic  size,  in  the  posture  of  a  man  seated  on  a 
^^blue-colored  bench,  from  the  four  corners  of  which  issued  four  huge  snakes. 
His  forehead  was  blue,  but  his  face  was  covered  with  a  golden  mask,  while 
another  of  the  same  kind  covered  the  back  of  his  head.  Upon  his  head  he 
carried  a  beautiful  crest  shaped  like  the  beak  of  a  bird,  upon  his  neck,  a 
collar,  consisting  of  ten  figures  of  the  human  heart ;  in  his  right  hand  a 
large,  blue,  twisted  club,  in  his  left,  a  shield,  on  'which  appeared  balls  of 
feathers  disposed  in  the  form  of  a  cross,  and  from  the  upper  part  of  the 
shield  rose  a  golden  stag,  with  four  arrows.  *  *  *  His  body  was  girt 
with  a  large  golden  snake,  and  adorned  with  various  lesser  figuies  of  ani- 
mals made  of  gold  and  precious  stones,  which  ornaments  and  insignia  had 
each  their  particular  meaning.  *  *  *  They  never  deliberated  upon 
making  war  without  imploring  the  protection  of  this  god  with  prayers  and 
sacrifices,  and  offered  up  a  greater  number  of  victims  to  him  than  any  of  the 
other  gods."  Huitzilopotchtli  was  the  chief  god  of- the  'Mexicans,  Tezcu- 
cans,  and  even  their  constant  enemy,  the  Tlascalans  ;  but  in  Cholula,  Quetz- 
alcoatl  held  the  primary  position  ;  with  the  Mexicans  he  was  the  god  of  the 
air,  the  divinity  of  halcyon  days,  who  embarked  after  passing  through 
Mexico,  and  sojourning  in  Cholula,  in  his  wizard  skiff  for  the  fabled  Tla- 
paltan.  He  had  white  skin,  dark  hair,  a  long  beard,  and  a  face  of  great 
gentleness  and  beauty.  (Dr.  Siguenza  says  tliat  this  was  St.  Thomas,  the 
Apostle,  which  he  is  well  convinced  of  by  his  preaching,  liis  prophecies, 
the  crosses  which  he  erected,  and  his  foretelling  tliat  a  race  witli  beards 
would  come  from  tlie  east  and  conquer  Mexico.)     In  addition  to  these,  there 


X  INTRODUCTION. 

were  some  three  Imndred  other  gods  worshipped  by  the  Aztecs,  and  added 
to  this  number,  the  sovereigns,  the  great  lords,  and  also  the  nobility,  had  in 
their  houses  six  penates,  or  minor  images,  and  the  common  people  two. 
These  figures,  which  were  of  various  forms,  ornamented  the  public  streets 
and  grounds,  and  such  was  their  number  that  when  the  capital  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  Christians,  no  less  than  twenty  thousand  were  destroyed. 
Such  idolatry  shocks  the  senses  of  the  modern  mind,  and  it  shudders  to 
think  of  those  liorrid  sacrifices,  wherein  it  is  agreed  vTpon  by  historians  that 
many,  many  thousands  perished  annually.  Yet  why  seems  this  belief 
so  strange,  when  our  own  ancestry  held  once  in  awe  and  reverence  the 
imaginary  forms  of  Odin,  Thor  and  other  Norse  gods,  whose  mysterious 
presences  were  observed  in  the  rolling  fogs  and  mists  which  encircled  the 
Arctic  pole,  whose  voices  were  heard  in  the  rumbling  thunders  which  broke 
over  Orkney  and  the  Hebrides,  whose  smiles  were  the  roseate  tints  which 
danced  in  the  Northern  Lights,  and  whose  anger  was  manifest  in  the  shock 
of  mountain  icebergs,  in  their  crashing  conflict,  when  the  wild  hurtling 
storms  howled  over  the  Northern  Seas  ? 

In  the  eigliteen  months  which  composed  the  Mexican  year,  there  were 
human  beings -sacrificed  in  each  one,  saving  the  eighteenth  or  last  month, 
which  commenced  about  the  first,  and  concluded  about  the  twentietli  of  Feb- 
ruary. There  were  various  forms  of  sacrifice,  and  the  offerings  to  the  diflFe- 
rent  deities  varied  in  their  character  ;  the  chief  objects,  however,  were  human 
beings,  rabbits  or  leverets,  and  quails ;  and  of  these  birds  the  multitudinous 
numbers  offered  exceed  all  belief.  One  of  the  most  singular  ceremonies 
was  the  sacrifice  to  the  god  Tezcatlipoca ;  "this  victim  was  the  handsomest 
and  best-shaped  youth  of  all  the  prisoners  ;  they  selected  him  a  year  before 
the  festival,  during  the  whole  time  he  was  dressed  in  a  similar  habit  with 
the  idol;  he  was  permitted  to  go  round  the  city,  but  accompanied  by  a  strong 
guard,  and  was  adored  everywhere  as  the  living  image  of  supreme  divinity. 
Twenty  days  before  the  festival,  this  youth  married  four  beautiful  girls, 
and  on  the  five  days  preceding  the  festival,  they  gave  him  sumptuous  enter- 
tainments, and  allowed  him  all  the  pleasures  of  life  ;  on  the  day  of  the  fes- 
tival they  led  him,  with  a  numerous  attendance,  to  the  temple  of  Tezcatli- 
poca, but  before  they  came  they  dismissed  his  wives.  He  accompanied  the 
idol  in  the  procession,  and  when  the  hour  of  sacrifice  was  come,  they 
stretched  him  upon  tlie  altar,  and  the  high  priest  with  great  reverence 
opened  his  breast  and  pulled  out  his  heart.  His  body  was  not  like  the  bodies 
of  other  victims,  thrown  down  stairs,  but  carried  in  the  arms  of  the  priests 
and  beheaded  at  the  bottom  of  the  temple ;  his  head  was  strung  up  in  the 
Tzompantli,  among  the  rest  of  the  skulls  of  the  victims  which  were  sacri- 
ficed to  Tezcatlipoca,  and  his  legs  and  arms  were  dressed  and  prepared  for 
the  tables  of  the  lords ;  after  the  sacrifice,  a  grand  dance  of  the  collegiate 
youths  and  nobles  who  were  present  at  the  festival,  took  place.  At  sunset 
the  virgins  of  the  temple  made  an  offering  of  baked  bread  and  honey.  *  * 
The  festival  was  concluded  by  dismissing  from  the  seminaries  all  the 
youths  and  virgijis  who  were  arrived  at  an  age  fit  for  matrimony,  the  youths 


INTRODUCTION.  Zl 

who  remained  mocked  the  others  with  satirical  and  humorous  raillery,  and 
threw  at  them  handsful  of  rushes  and  other  things,  upbraiding  thera  with 
leaving  the  service  of  God  for  the  pleasures  of  matrimony ;  the  priests 
always  granted  them  indulgence  in  this  kind  of  youthful  vivacity." 

Close  to  the  great  temple  were  the  public  schools,  with  distinct  depart- 
ments for  male  and  female,  noble  and  plebeian  students,  where  a  Spartan 
education  was  given  to  them  physically,  and  their  minds  imbued  with  the 
precepts  of  their  religion.  At  the  end  of  every  fifty-two  years  tliere  was  a 
grand  festival  of  rekindling  fire,  which  element  they  superstitiously  believed 
would  be  lost  to  them  without  this  ceremony.  A  procession  was  formed 
of  many  miles  in  length,  which,  headed  by  the  priests,  wound  its  way  to  a 
neighboring  mountain,  where  after  offering  up  a  sacrifice,  renewing  the  fire 
upon  an  altar,  and  immolating  their  victims,  who  were  generally  prisoners 
of  war,  the  multitude  returned  to  the  city,  and  a  general  Bedlam-like  Satur- 
nalia took  place,  in  which,  breaking  all  their  crockery -ware,  and  beating  their 
wives,  cut  the  most  important  figure. 

The  political  division  of  the  country  was  between  the  king,  the  church, 
the  nobles,  and  the  commons,  a  division  in  which  an-  assimilation  to  Euro- 
pean modes  of  distributing  lands  is  plainly  perceptible.  The  institution 
of  slavery  existed  in  a  modified  form,  being  confined  to  prisoners  of  war, 
malefactors,  and  those  who  failed  to  pay  their  taxes,  the  latter  class  might 
work  out  their  redemption,  and  a  man  might  sell  his  children  or  even  sell 
himself,  but  slavery  did  not  exist  in  a  hereditaiy  form.*  "  The  Mexican 
government,"  says  Don  Antonio  de  Solis,  "  discovered  a  remarkable  harmony 
between  the  parts  which  composed  it.  Beside  the  council  of  the  revenue, 
which,  as  we  have  said,  took  care  of  the  royal  patrimony,  they  had  a  coun- 
cil of  justice,  which  received  appeals  from  inferior  tribunals,  a  council  of 
war,  for  the  forming  of  armies  and  military  provisions,  and  a  council  of 
state,  which  was  generally  held  in  the  presence  of  the  king,  and  treated 
matters  of  the  greatest  importance.  They  likewise  had  a  sufficient  number 
of  judges  of  commerce,  and  other  different  officers,  as  provosts  of  the  king's 
court,  who  went  about  the  city  to  take  up  delinquents.  These  officers,  as 
likewise  did  the  alguazils,  or  lieutenants,  carried  a  staff  in  their  hands  as  a 
mark  of  distinction,  that  their  office  might  be  known.  They  held  their  tri- 
bunal in  a  certain  part  of  the  town,  where  they  heard  the  parties  and  imme- 
diately determined  the  cause  ;  their  judgments  were  summary  and  verbal, 
both  sides  appeared  with  their  claims  and  witnesses,  and  the  cause  was  pre- 
sently decided — except  where  it  happened  to  be  a  case  of  appeal  to  a  supe- 
rior tribunal.  They  had  no  written  laws,  but  were  governed  according  to 
the  institutions  of  their  ancestors,  custom,  upon  all  occasions,  supplying  the 
want  of  laws,  when  the  pleasure  of  the  prince  did  not  interpose  to  make  in- 
novations. All  these  councils  were  composed  of  men  experienced  both  in 
war  and  peace,  and  the  council  of  state,  which  was  superior  to  all  the  others, 

•  "  Slavery  had  already  been  introduced  among  the  Mexicans,  *id  the  sons  of  those  whom 
thev  had  taken  in  war  were  reduced  to  a  sort  of  servitude." — Cardinal  Loreniana. 


Xll  INTRODUCTION. 

was  formed  of  the  electors  of  the  empire,  wliich  was  a  dignity  conferred  upon 
the  ancient  princes  of  tlie  blood  royal ;  and  when  matters  of  great  conse- 
quence were  to  be  discussed,  they  summoned  to  the  council  the  kings  of 
Tezcuco  and  Tacuba,  who  were  the  principal  electors  and  had  this  preroga- 
tive by  succession.  The  four  chief  counselors  always  resided  in  the  palace, 
and  attended  near  the  king's  person  to  declare  their  opinions  upon  whatever 
offered,  and  to  give  his  decrees  the  greater  autliority  among  the  people.  Re- 
wards and  punishments  were  dispensed  with  equal  care  ;  murder,  theft, 
adultery,  or  other  disrespect  toward  the  king  or  their  religion,  were  capital 
crimes  ;  all  other  misdemeanors  were  easily  pardoned,  for  their  very  religion 
itself  disarmed  justice  by  tolerating  vice.  Corruption  in  the  ministers  was 
also  punished  with  loss  of  life,  and  no  crime  was  looked  upon  as  venial  in 
tliose  who  served  in  public  capacities.  This  custom  Montezuma  observed 
with  the  utmost  rigor,  having  people  of  especial  trust  to  examine  into  their 
conduct,  and  even  to  offer  them  bribes,  and  he  who  was  found  deficient  in 
any  part  of  his  duty  was  infallibly  punished  with  death." 

In  the  matter  of  marriage,  it  was  an  invariable  custom  to  refuse  the  hand 
of  a  bride  to  the  first  application  of  a  suitor,  a  policy  which,  at  this  day, 
would  be  considered  somewhat  equivocal,  if  not  altogether  unsafe.  The 
garments  of  the  parties  were  tied  together  by  the  skirts,  and  the  matrimo- 
nial knot  was  considered  as  inseparable  as  the  Gordian.  Upon  such  an 
occasion,  and  the  almost  necessarily  consequential  event  of  a  birth,  a  free 
use  of  liquors  of  an  intoxicating  kind  was  permitted,  but  upon  no  other 
occasions,  under  the  severest  penalties,  saving  to  nobility,  and  old  men, 
who  were  allowed  more  license  in  this  respect — the  joyous  rites  concluded 
with  a  dance,  an  amusement  very  common  among  the  Aztecs,  and  one  in 
which  they  displayed  an  infinite  degree  of  skill  and  grace.  But  the  laws 
did  not  restrict  the  husband  to  a  single  wife  at  a  time  ;  yet,  though  polyga- 
my was  permitted,  it  was  not  practised  to  any  extent,  except  by  the  superior 
orders.  The  priesthood,  which  amounted  to  many  thousands,  were  not 
confined  to  celibacy,  a  course  rather  more  in  keeping  with  a  common-sense 
view  of  virtue,  than  the  rigid  austerity  of  a  canonical  bachelorhood.  The 
military  department  of  the  government  was  one  which  received  a  great 
amount  of  attention,  and  no  profession  was  more  honorable  than  that 
of  a  soldier.  The  garment  of  the  ordinary  men  was  simply  a  cotton 
band  around  the  waist,  and  this,  of  course,  left  the  body  exposed  in 
battle,  which  was  remedied  in  the  higher  classes  or  grades  of  soldiery 
by  having  quilted  dresses  of  cotton,  a  simple  armor,  but  by  being  proof 
against  arrows,  it  avoided  the  weapon  which  was  most  likely  to  be  used 
against  them,  their  chief  arms  being  bows  and  arrows,  slings,  darts,  and 
other  missiles  ;  but,  in  addition  to  these,  spears  were  common,  tipped  with 
that  extraordinary  stone  called  itzli,  or  obsidian,  which  was  a  species  of 
flint  capable  of  receiving  an  edge  as  fine  as  a  razor,  and  a  polish  in  which 
the  face  could  be  seen  distinctly  as  in  a  mirror.  The  maquahuitl,  which 
was  the  most  eflfective  instrument  of  warfare  in  their  employ,  was  formed 
by  splitting  a  stout  stick  and  fastening  therein  pieces  of  itzli,  which  pro- 


INTRODUCTION.  Xlll 

truded  on  either  side,  with  spaces  of  several  inches  between  each  blade — 
so  severe  was  this  Aveapon,  that  some  over-imaginative  historian  records  an 
instance  of  a  horse's  head  being  severed  by  a  single  blow  of  a  maquahuitl. 
The  nobility  and  distinguished  Avarriors  were  clad  in  the  most  gorgeous 
surcoats  of  feather-Avork,  a  material  in  the  composition  of  Avhich  the  Mexi- 
cans were  unapproachable  ;  these,  with  spotted  cotton  garments,  and  beau- 
tiful skins  of  animals,  were  sometimes  covered  with  thin  breast-plates  and 
other  armor  of  copper,  and  even  silver  and  gold.  Their  heads  were  de- 
fended by  helmets  of  various  construction,  made  either  of  very  thick  dried 
hides,  or  pieces  of  wood  carved  in  curious  shapes,  such  as  the  head  of  a 
boar  or  panther.  The  want  of  horses,  gunpowder,  and  iron  or  steel,  de- 
ti'acted  very  much  from  their  military  efficiency,  and  the  use  of  those  things 
by  their  enemies  contributed,  in  a  great  measure,  to  the  subjugation  of  the 
Aztecs.  In  short,  although  their  condition  does  not  fill  the  modern  Euro- 
pean idea  of  civilization,  yet  it  was  in  some  respects  a  rival  of  oriental  lux- 
uiy  and  magnificence,  and  so  far  superior,  in  every  regard,  t-o  the  condition 
of  the  North  American  Indians,  that  any  comparison  between  them  is 
wholly  out  of  the  question.  And  the  idea  of  their  having  emigrated  from 
Asia  has  more  fancy  than  fact  for  its  foundation ;  for  this  argument,  having 
for  its  basis  the  similarity  of  monuments  with  Egypt,  affords  no  stronger 
proof  of  a  common  origin  of  the  races,  than  the  resemblance  of  a  rose  and 
a  dahlia  does  of  their  identical  character  or  common  parentage. 


CHAPTEK  I 


It  was  night,  and  the  white  luoonhght  fell  upon  the  marble  and 
alabaster  pillars  of  the  palace  of  Montezuma,  and  the  ruddy 
gleam  of  torches  could  be  seen  through  the  latticed  windows, 
flashing  from  the  banquet  room,  where  sat  the  monarch  of  the 
Aztec  empire,  amid  a  brilliant  assemblage  of  the  nobility,  and 
chief  persons  of  his  realm.  The  empero^was  clothed  in  light 
and  graceful  robes  of  azure  and  white ;  sandals  of  gold  were  upon 
his  feet,  and  a  crown  of  the  same  metal,  studded  with  starry  gems, 
encircled  his  brow.  He  wore  a  collar  of  brilliants  and  precious 
stones,  among  which  the  emeralds,  which  were  of  enormous  size 
and  most  highly  prized,  shone  conspicuous.  In  age  the  emperor 
was  about  his  fortieth  year;  his  stature  was  tall  and  graceful  ;  his 
complexion  of  a  shade  between  an  olive  and  cinnamon  hue  ;  his 
hair  was  dark  and  long  (it  being  the  custom  not  to  cut  the  hair, 
except  as  a  disgrace  or  punishment).  His  eyes  we^  also  dark, 
with  a  soft,  melancholy  expression  in  their  glance,  whiM  betokened 
an  inertness  of  character  ;  but  upon  the  slightest  excitement  they 
assumed  a  liveliness  and  intelligence  of  a  very  pleasing  order. 

Immediately  upon  the  right  of  the  monarch,  sat  his  brother, 
Cuitlahua,  prince  of  Itztapalapan  (a  city  across  the  lake  towards 
the  south).  In  figure  this  person  resembled  Montezuma,  but  the 
countenance  he  bore  betokened  a  firmness  far  above  that  of  the 
other ;  there  was  a  fierce  and  fiery  look  in  the  flashing  black  eye,  ' 
and  a  determination  in  the  contraction  of  the  brow,  and  compres- 
sion of  the  lips,  that  showed  Cuitlahua  to  be  a  stern  and  resolute 
man. 

Upon  the  left  of  the  emperor,  sat  Cacama,  the  young  king  of 
Tezcuco ;  in  his  physical  form  he  was  admirably  developed,  and 
his  raven  ringlets  rolled  off"  from  his  fine  forehead,  ancj  clustered 
upon  his  broad  and  manly  neck  ;  there  was  a  look  of  dignity  and 
daring  in  his  aspect,  which  won  the  admiration  of  the  observer 

(15) 


lb*  .      ^  W^-XMIZTIC,  •  tUE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

in  an  instant';  fiis  pcwertul'voi'ce  rang  clearly  through  the  hall, 
and  his  bright  teeth  glittered  between  his  parte^  lips,  as  he  said : 

"By  the  bones  of  our  forefathers,  brother  Ouhcuitca,  thou 
•*wouldst  make  us  believe,  next,  that  the  Tlascalans  will  march 
against  Tezcuco." 

Tlie  person  to  whom  this  was  addressed  was  a  sly,  sinister- 
looking  man,  with  a  dark  visage,  and  a  roving  eye  ;  he  replied  : 

"  There  may  be  more  grounds  for  that  opinion,  in  time,  Cacama, 
than  you  think  for  at  present.  You  may  remember  when  our 
ancestors  were  scorned  as  an  insignificant  and  contemptible  race  ; 
but  time  has  taught  our  enemies  to  be  careful  how  they  taunt  the 
true  ciiildren  of  tiie  gods." 

"Fear  not,"  replit^the  other,  "that  our  foes  will  rise  to  so 
great  a  pitch  in  a  short  time ;  armies  cannot  spring  up  like  mush- 
rooms, in  a  night,  and  though  the  TIascalans  be  fierce  in  fight, 
they  are  too  few  in  numbers  to  be  feared." 

"But  I  regret  to  heaj:,"  said  another  brother,  called  Coanaco, 
"that  Ixtliloxchitl,  who  is  a  son  of  our  father  Nezahualpilli,  has 
withdrawn  himself  from  Tezcuco,  and  now  heads  a  rebellion 
against  you,  Cacama,  in  the  neighboring  mountains." 

"Then,  let  him  come  on,"  replied  Cacama;  "if  his  discon- 
tente(J,^r^can  find  no  object  to  vent  itself  uj)on,  save  the  quiet- 
ness dfrlj'dB^own  which  lias  descended  to  me,  from  our  father, 
in  the  san^  dfcrse  which  has  been  continued  for  centuries,  I  say, 
let  him  c^n*  ;  not  that  I  wish  to  wreak  vengeance  upon  a  brother 
for  his  rasl^lfcts,  but  I  will  make  tliose  rascal  rebels  know  what 
it  is  to  raise  a  revolt  in  a  quiet  kingdom." 

"T  hear,"  said  Montezuma,  "that  these  persons  are  collected 
iji  the  mountain  caves,  and  are  committing  robberies  not  only 
upon  the  rud(!  Otomies,  but  even  upon  our  peaceful  peasantry  ; 
if  this  be  true,  it  sliall  not  be  well  with  them  if  they  continue  this 

"^'>ut  how,"  remarked  Cuicuitca,  *'if  they  sliould  join  the 
TIascalans  ?" 

"I  will  bid  them  return  to  their  allegiance.  1  will  send  a 
deputy  fo  Ixtliloxchitl,  in  person,"  said  the  emperor. 

"{SuppoM,"  returned  Cuicuitca,  "that  he  refuse  to  comply 
with  the  order?" 


THB.  CAVAI.1EK8    OF    THE    CKOS6.  17 

"  Then,  by  the  bones  of  our  sires !"  interrupted  Cacama,  "let 
the  penalty  fall  upon  the  heads  of  the  Tlascalans ;  we  hare  had 
their  shadows  in  ©iir  sunlight  too  long  already." 

"Well,  friends,*%«aid  Montezuma,  "who  will  pledge  us  in  a 
song,  and  a  cup  of  dear  octli,  the  precious  juice  of  the  aloe  ?  My 
own  minstrels  hare,  of  late,  found  no  lay  to  suit  my  mood ;  I 
would  have  a  sad,  sweet  song,  wherein  the  moonhght  of  pleasure 
'fringes  the  clouds  of  sadness  with  a  quiet  glow  of  beauty.  Ah  ! 
were  I  a  minstrel  myself,  and  could  pour  forth  my  soul  in  song, 
you  should  hear  the  silver  wares  of  melody  break  around  you, 
and  their  dying  murmurs  fade  away  in  the  echoes  of  these  halls." 

"  By  the  spirit  of  melody  and  poesy  !  my  lord,"  said  Cacama, 
**but  thou  dost  speak  more  than  thy  ming^rels  can  sing." 

"  Nay,  cousin,"  said  the  king,  *'  but  you  flatter  me." 

"  Indeed,  my  lord,  I  do  not,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  every  fine  feel- 
ing soul  at  this  board  will  join  me  in  saying  that  thou  art  a  poet, 
though  thou  makest  no  songs." 

"  Of  course,"  answered  the  king,  "  they  will  echo  your  compli- 
ment ;  but,  Cacama,  thy  father,  was  the  very  prince  of  poets,  and 
thy  mother  had  a  voice  like  a  mocking-bird,  for  melody  ;  if  you 
will  call  to  mind  a  song  of  his,  and  sing  it  with  her  voice,  you 
wiH  revive  the  past,  and  make  me  a  double  debtoac^  "^WHt  thou 
be  accompanied  with  the  instruments  ?" 

"Kay,  my  lord,  if  you  will  needs  hear  so  rude  aroite  as  mine, 
you  will  please  hear  it  alone,  as  I  am  too  poorly  sikSled  in  iaufiic 
to  meet  the  time  of  their  twanging,  and  I  should  but  mar  tiieir 
melody,  for  my  manner  is  without  measure,  except  according.,  to 
the  impulse  of  my  own  feelings ;  but,  without  more  ado,  I  wiH 
sing,  as  best  I  can,  lest  I  should  give  too  much  importance  to  the 
song  by  a  prelude  of  words." 

So,  with  his  clear  and  powerful  voice,  which  made  the  hall 
ring,  he  sang : 

When  hope's  Bunli^t  fadeth^ 

Memory's  moon  doth  rise. 
Silver  ligM  pervadeth 

Ocean,  earth.,  and  skies. 


18  MALMIZTIC,     THE    TOLTP:C  ;    AKD 

Clouds,  like  dark-winged  angels. 
Sweep  along  the  night, 

'Till  their  sable  pinions 
Catch  the  golden  light. 

So  when  dreams  of  sadness,       ' 

Shadow  o'er  the  soul. 
Gleams  a.e  seen  of  gladness. 

Like  lights  around  the  pole  ; 

And  though  darkness  cover 

All  the  deep  blue  skies. 
Through  night's  veil  the  lover 

Sees  an  angel's  eyes. 

Whap  youths'  dreams  have  faded, 

Memoiy  looketh  back 
Where  the  light  is  shaded 

In  life's  sunny  track  ; 
And  within  the  bowers 

"Where  our  joys  have  strayed, 
Meraoiy  marks  the  flowers 

Leaf  by  leaflet  fade. 

When  the  day  expires. 

Darkness  cometh  fast ; 
Crimson  clouds,  like  fires. 

Fly  before  the  blast ; 
Grey  and  purple  glimmer 

Where  the  sun  lies  dead. 
And  the  shadows  shimmer 

Round  his  dying  bed. 

So,  when  life  declineth. 

Age  creeps  on  with  ills. 
Gazing  where  light  shineth 

On  youth's  distant  hills  ; 
But  this  night  of  sorrow 

Breaks  at  length  away  ; 
Joy  cometh,  and  the  morrow 

Dawns  with  eternal  day. 

Loud  and  long  were  the  manifestations  of  applause  which  were 
given  and  continued,  when  Cacama  concluded  his  song,  and  they 
were  echoed  from  the  doors  by  a  party  which  entered ;  this  con- 


TIIK    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  19 

sisted  of  Montezuma's  two  daughters,  and  his  sister,  Papatzin, 
with  an  attendant  train  of  female  followers,  and  the  emperor's 
nephew,  Guatemozin.  In  company  with  these  came  a  majestic 
figure,  who  walked  the  hall  with  a  dignified  and  stately  step.  He 
threw  his  dark  mantle  gracefully  over  his  shoulders,  and  advanced 
with  the  party  opposite  the  emperor,  where  they  all  made  the 
most  respectful,  nay,  reverential  obeisance,  to  the  person  of  the 
monarch.  Servants  instantly  appeared  with  elegantly  wrought 
mats  and  cushions;  and  upon  these  the  party  reclined,  in  a 
similar  manner  to  that  position  in  which  they  found  those  already 
assembled. 

The  first  that  had  entered  was  Tecuiclipo,  who  was  a  beautiful 
feminine  likeness  of  her  father,  Montezuma,  tall,  graceful  in  her 
movement,  with  a  bearing  of  pride  and  elegance  worthy  of  the 
queenly  state  and  classic  face  of  the  emperor's  daughter. 

The  other  was  her  sister,  Tecalco,  the  flower  of  Aztec  loveli- 
ness ;  through  the  pure  transparency  of  her  clear  complexion, 
the  rich  flush  of  a  warm,  southern  blood  kindled  and  glowed  into 
a  soft  crimson,  like  the  delicate  and  downy  velvet  on  the  sunny 
side  of  a  semitransparent  peach  ;  and  her  lips  were  like  the  bright- 
tinted  blossoms  which  forerun  the  same  fruit.  Her  eyes  were  of 
that  liquid  hazle  which,  by  night,  deepens  into  darkness,  eyes, 
which  in  their  quietness  had  a  melting  and  fawn-like  softness, 
but  in  moments  of  animation  caught  a  brilliant  lustre,  and  spar- 
kled with  a  speaking  beauty  to  the  passing  emotions  of  her  mind. 
Her  hair  was  lighter  in  its  hue  than  any  of  the  tribe,  it  being  a  soft 
brown,  while  black  was  the  prevailing  color  ;  in  its  texture  it  was 
fine  and  glossy  as  a  web  of  shining  silk,  and  its  light  and  luxuri- 
ant tresses  were  bound  back  from  her  brow  by  a  band  of  beauti- 
ful pearls,  which  were  in  admirable.keeping  with  the  purity  of  her 
complexion.  Her  figure  was  the  blen(^^  of  a  spiritual  or  fairy- 
like lightness,  with  the  round  fullness  of  womanly  beauty ;  and 
her  movements  were  all  characterized:  by  a  natural  ease,  grace, 
and  elegance.  Her  every  air  and  attitude  had  in  it  something- 
bewitchingly  winning. 

Directly  opposite  to  her  sat  the  monarch's  sister,  Papatzin ;  her 
face  had  been  handsome,  nay,  commandingly  fine,  but  habitual 
melancholy  had  worn  traces  of  premature  age  in  her  cheek  and 


20  MALMIZTIC,    THK    TOLTKC  J    AND 

brow,  and  her  fair  face  was  as  a  fading  flower,  a  blossom  touched 
by  an  untimely  blight,  which  no  spring  time  or  fostering  hand  can 
make  resume  its  original  loveliness  ;  a  pensive  gloom  pervaded 
her  features,  and  her  very  smile  had  in  it  something  touch- 
ingly  sad. 

The  figure  that  had  advanced  nearest  the  emperor  was  his 
nephew,  Guatemozin,  the  pride  of  the  Aztec  chivalry,  with  a  form 
and  face  fitted  for  the  Apollo  Belvidere,  a  countenance  which, 
in  a  glance,  revealed  to  the  beholder  a  mouth  whose  delicate  cut 
and  meaning  expression  was  an  unmistakable  index  of  charac- 
ter. His  eyes  were  large  and  liquid,  and  their  dark  orbs  were 
so  shaded  by  their  long  lashes,  that-  they  seemed  of  an  intense 
blacij-ness  ;  his  skin  was  unusually  fair,  and  as  the  masses  of  raven 
ringlets  rolled  down  upon  his  exquisitely  formed  neck,  it  dis- 
played a  feminine  beauty,  notwithstanding  the  powerful  muscular 
development  of  his  manly  shoulders.  His  was  a  face  and  figure 
for  a  woman  to  look  upon  and  love ;  his  was  an  eye  and  an  arm 
for  a  friend  to  admire,  and  a  foe  to  fear ;  a  face  that  you  were 
ready  to  call  friend  from  its  frankness,  and  a  hand  that  you  could 
grasp  at  a  glance,  and  feel  assured  that  its  chords  led  to  a  noble, 
chivalric,  and  high-spirited  heart.  His  dress  was  gorgeous,  con- 
sisting of  a  magnificent  robe  of  feather-work  and  furs,  which 
was  gathered  gracefully  around  him,  and  fell  over  his  shoulders 
in  easy  and  ample  folds. 

The  other  personage,  who  had  entered  at  the  same  time,  was 
a  being  to  be  once  seen  and  he  could  never  afterwards  be  forgot- 
ten. His  height  was  above,  the  medium  standard  of  men,  but 
from  his  great  breadth  of  chest  and  shoulders,  he  did  not  appear 
tall ;  the  easy  manner  in  which  he  handled  his  dark,  flowing 
mantle,  and  the  gravity  of  his  carriage,  lent  him  a  look  of  ma- 
jesty in  movement  that  would  have  distinguished  him  in  the 
midst  of  a  multitude ;  he  wore  a  high,  two-sided  hat,  like  a 
bishop's  mitre  (in  this  he  diff'ered  from  all  the  company,  who 
never  used  this  article  of  headdress  in  any  shape),  which  hat  he 
doflfed  as  he  entered,  and  displayed  a  most  extraordinary  head. 
It  was  covered  with  a  mass  of  jet-black  hair,  which  lay  in  waves 
upon  the  top  of  his  head,  and  clustered  closely  about  his  neck 
and  temples.     His  forehead  was  towering  and  of  massive  breadth  ; 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CRUSS.  21 

his  brows  were  very  black,  and  beneath  them  his  eyes  flashed 
electric  fire.  There  was  a  fearful  and  mysterious  beauty  in  the 
solemn  and  severe  depths  of  his  eyes,  yet  they  charmed  and  they 
awed  at  the  same  instant;  their  mystic  brightness  won  your 
gaze,  and  their  profound  thoughtfulness  had  a  severity  which 
startled  you.  The  outline  of  the  features  was  large,  but  classic- 
ally correct ;  and  unlike  any  of  the  rest  of  the  assemblage,  his 
raven  beard  was  remarkably  long  and  heavy.  His  voice  was 
deep,  rich,  and  melodious,  and  the  eye  of  the  traveller  would 
wander  many  a  day  over  the  inhabitants  of  earth,  before  it  would 
alight  upon  a  more  striking  or  remarkable  being  than  Malmiztic, 
the  Toltec. 

He  was  the  living  representative  of  that  shadowy  race  w^hose 
works  have  outlasted  memory  and  history  !  and  the  measureless 
character  of  his  mind,  together  with  his  erudition  in  all  abstruse 
learning  or  scientific  mysteries,  made  his  name  famous  through- 
out the  empire,  and  wherever  he  went,  so  universal  was  the 
respect  paid  to  him,  that  he  was  known  as  the  Revered.  With 
the  emperor  he  was  in  high  favor,  as  the  most  skillful  calculator 
in  the  realm,  in  regard  to  the  complex  calendar  of  the  Toltecs, 
which  the  Aztec  race  had  adopted ;  and  with  the  matJbynaticians 
of  the  schools,  and  the  architects  of  the  empire,  hfs  opinion  was 
deemed  invaluable.  But  the  whole  of  the  common  people  and 
many  of  the  nobility  had  an  instinctive  dread  oj^him^  for  they 
imagined  there  was  no  magic  or  sorcery  (n  Avliich  h^  was  not 
versed ;  and  the  very  results  which  he  had  produced  by  chemical , 
science  in  the  emperor's  smelting  hous«&,  iniassaying  metals,  and 
the  formation  of  new  material  and  rai'e  •  Compo^ds,  were  looked 
upon  as  conjurations  obtained  by  communicatiiaw  with  evil  spirits. 
But  the  class  which  held  him  in  the  greatest  horror,  and  looked 
upon  him  not  only  as  the  agent,  but  the  evil  spirit  himself,  was 
the  priesthood  ;  they  feared  him,  and  even  avoided  his  sight,  and 
in  fact  would  have  destroyed  his  life,  had  he  not  been  known  as 
a  man  deeply  respected  by  the  monarch  ;  and,  in  addition,  there 
was  no  one  in  the  realm,  not  even  the  emperor  himself,  who  was 
possessed  of  so  vast  an  amount  of  gold  and  jewels  as  Malmiztic. 
His  palace,  near  Tezcozinco,  was  a  microcosm  of  strength,  beauty, 
and  magnificence.     But  it  was  not  for  this  that  the  priests  held 


22  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

him  in  such  abhorrence,  but  it  was  because  the  Toltec  was  the 
worshipper  of  an  unknown  and  invisible  God,  and  because  he 
had  denied  and  refused  to  worship  Huitzilopotchth,  or  any  of  the 
accepted  deities  of  the  Aztecs,  and  had  been  heard  to  speak 
against  them  all,  except  Quetzalcoatl ;  and  it  was  rumored  that 
he  had  in  his  possession  a  manuscript  written  upon  aloe  leaves, 
in  Quetzalcoatl's  own  hand,  which  had  descended  to  Malmiztic 
from  his  ancestry,  who  had  dwelt  in  Tula  and  afterwards  in 
Cholula ;  but  even  to  Quetzalcoatl's  own  image  the  stern  Toltec 
had  never  been  known  to  bow.  Those  who  had  watched  him 
narrowly,  had  sometimes  seen  him,  in  the  lone  and  silent  hours 
of  the  night,  in  field  or  grove,  upon  bended  knees  on  the  green- 
sward, gazing  fixedly  up  in  the  bright  blue  skies  at  the  stars,  or 
with  clasped  hands  watching  the  midnight  moon,  as  she  went 
wading  with  her  silver  lamp  through  the  black  and  broken  masses 
of  mountain  clouds. 

**  Malmiztic,"  said  Montezuma,  **it  is  said  that  you  sing  ;  shall 
we  not  hear  a  reply  to  Cacama's  verses  V* 

"If  it  please  you,  my  lord,"  answered  the  other,  "to  hear  my 
notes  you  shall  have  them  cheerfully.  I  fear  that  I  am  more 
bold  than  touched  with  maiden  modesty.  I  cannot  grant  your 
majesty's  request  in  full,  as  to  reply,  but  I  can  give  his  father's 
last  song,  if  iny  memory  has  not  grown  treacherous  with  two 
score  years*  service." 

"Why,  as  I  live,  Malmiztic,"  said  the  emperor,  smiling,  "it 
was  but  yesterday  you  dared  to  rate  me  for  desponding,  and  that 
in  good  round  terms ;  and  now,  behold,  to-day  you  are  losing 
your  voice,  as  you  fear,  and  finding  yourself  suddenly  growing 
old  at  two  scores  1" 

"  Were  I  a  Tlascalan,'*  said  Guatemozin,  "  I  would  not  hear 

it  give  the  battle  cry,  nor  see  ^that  Toltec  arm  wielding  a  blade 

of  itzli  before  my  eyes  for  fifty  kingdoms  rich  as  Aztlan.     But 

give  us  the  last  song  of  Tezcuco's  poet-king." 

And  Malmiztic  sang : 

SONG. 

All  the  joys  of  the  present  let  us  cherish. 
All  that's  bright  and  beauteous  must  decay; 

Pleasure's  purple  flowers  droop  and  perish, 
Leaf  by  leaf  from  beauty's  blossoms,  drop  away. 


THE    CAVALIEKS    Ob'    Tllli    CKUSS.  ^'^^ 

"Why  stand  amid  the  mountain  snows  repining. 
While  all  the  valley  blushes  with  its  bloom; 

Why  'mid  the  roses  of  our  life  be  twining, 
The  night-shade  berries,  fitted  for  the  tomb. 

The  grave  is  but  the  gateway  which  discloses, 
A  realm  where  angels  fill  the  atmosphere; 

Where,  as  we  dream  upon  a  bed  of  roses, 
A  seraph  comes  to  kiss  away  each  tear. 

« 

Mark  now  the  bow,  life's  bright  but  fleeting  token. 
Catch  now  the  breeze,  it  stays  not  on  the  lawn; 

Seize !  seize !  the  harp,  before  its  strings  are  broken. 
The  wine  of  joy,  before  its  zest  is  gone. 

As  the  last  sound  of  these  words  died  away,  a  very  shout  of 
applause  arose,  in  which  the  emperor  was  most  rapturous.  **  As 
I  live,"  said  he,  "Malmiztic,  thy  voice  thrills  through  me  like 
magic ;  there  is  something  in  its  deep,  sweet  tones  softer  than 
falling  waters,  and  more  wild  and  mellow  than  the  horn  of  a 
hunter,  which  in  the  grey  light  of  morning,  sends  its  echoes  down 
the  mountain  side,  and  through  the  silent  valleys.  Why,  had  I 
known  thou  wert  so  skilled  in  song,  I  should  have  had  no  musi- 
cians but  of  thy  choosing.  Thou  hast  pleased  me  well,  what  favor 
shall  I  grant  thee  in  return?" 

*'If  it  please  you,  sire,"  returned  Malmiztic,  "the  toon  that  I 
shall  ask,  is,  that  you  will  make  Guatemozin  sing  the  noble  ladies 
a  love  song." 

''Ay!  good!  good!"  cried  a  number  of  voices  at  once,  "let 
us  have  a  song  for  the  fair  ladies." 

"But  I  do  not  sing,"  said  Guatemozin.  The  answer  to  this 
was  a  burst  of  laughter  from  Cacama.  "Wh^t!"  said  he,  "not 
sing  ?  Our  cousin  Tecuiclipo  hath  just  said  inat  you  have  sung, 
night  after  night,  under  her  window,  and  that  it  was  more 
winning  and  rare  than  the  voice  of  the  mocking-bird  in  the 
fig-tree." 

"Then,  if  you  will  have  me  sing,"  said  Guatemozin,  smiling, 
*'I  will  give  you  a  new  song,  and  who,  think  you,  is  the  author? 
why,  there  he  stands,  he  that  has  grown  old  so  suddenly,  he,  the 
grave  astronomer,  the  cold-blooded,  wine-hating  philosopher ;  Ay ! 
uncle,  and  ladies,  you  knew  that  he  was  the  great  painter,  the 


24  MALMIZTIC,    Tllii    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

scholar  and  man  of  science,  and  later,  that  he  is  a  musician ;  and 
now,  to  conclude,  behold  him  in  his  new  character  of  poet ! — and 
so,  for  his  song." 

And,  with  these  words,  Guatemozin  broke  forth  with  a  flood 
of  melody,  whose  waves  ghding  on,  rose,  sparkling,  to  their  pitch, 
and  then  swept  smoothly  away,  reflecting  a  thousand  images  in 
each  sweet  swell. 

SONG. 
Quetzalcoatl's  bark  hath  flown. 

O'er  the  eastern  ocean, 
As  he  went,  the  mountain  waves, 

Lost  their  wild  emotion.  * 

The  Halcyon  brooded  on  the  deep. 

The  Nautilus  went  sailing. 
The  snowy  sea-bird  fell  to  sleep, 

And  ceased  her  mournful  wailing. 

He  cast  the  wine  cup  far  away, 

And  held  its  draught  forbidden, 
For  in  its  purple  depths  there  lay, 

A  subtle  serpent  hidden. 
He  tore  the  chaplet  from  his  head. 

And  scattered  all  its  flowers. 
Because,  their  fragrance  lost,  he  said. 

Recalled  life's  wasted  hours. 


# 


But  in  his  wizard  skiff  he  stood. 

And  to  his  harp  was  singing. 
While  she  went  skimming  o'er  the  flood. 

Her  sail  no  shadow  flinging !    ' 
But,  as  an  eagle  sweeps  the  sky. 

With  moveless  pinion  feather, 
That  magic  boat  flew  swiftly  by. 

The  bark  and  he  together. 

Though  far  away,  the  coral  caves, 

His  voice  seemed  to  be  haunting, 
And  on  the  wind,  across  the  waves, 

'T  was  borne  in  strains  enchanting, 
And  as  its  murmurs  died  away. 

Where  sunlit  billows  quiver. 
An  echo's  voice  was  heard  to  say, 

"  Dear  woman's  health  forever  \" 


TilE    CAVALIERS    OF   THE    CROSS.  25 

Quetzalcoatl  wanders  now. 

In  shadowy  Tlapallan, 
When  he  comes  the  knee  shall  bo"w, 

Of  each  proud  Tlascalan. 
And  when  he  again  appears 

From  that  unknown  region, 
"Dear  woman's  health"  shall  greet  his  ears. 

From  voices  of  a  legion. 

If  that  could  be  called  a  shout  of  applause  which  greeted  the 
conclusion  of  Malmiztic's  singing,  those  sounds  which  now  fol- 
lowed Guatemozin's  beautiful  strain  might  well  be  termed  a  storm 
of  approbation. 

"By  my  crown !"  said  Montezuma,  "my  friends,  I  am  indeed 
indebted  to  you  for  this — Guatemozin,  for  that  strain  you  shall 
hereafter  direct  my  musicians  to  arrange  their  themes  by  your 
skill  and  taste ;  and,  for  you,  Malmiztic,  I  make  you  poet  of  the 
realm !  see  that  you  have  your  address  ready  by  the  first  day  of 
the  next  grand  festival — I  would  sleep  in  this  happy  mood,  for  in 
the  morning,  mark  you,  friends,  the  grand  regatta  upon  the  lake 
takes  place,  and,  as  I  have  fixed  upon  a  favorite,  and  shall  expect 
to  see  you  all  at  an  early  hour,  I  will  even  bid  you  good  night, 
and  to  my  rest." 

So  saying,  the  monarch  rose,  and  all  the  party  at  the  same 
instant,  and  bowing  low  they  bade  him  farewell  and  wished  him 
quiet  repose  ;  so  supported  by  his  nobles  upon  either  hand,  the 
emperor  passed  out  of  the  great  door  into  another  apartment  of 
the  palace,  and  the  company  following,  soon  scattered  themselves 
towards  their  various  abodes,  and  the  torches,  which  were  now 
growing  dim  in  the  great  hall,  were  extinguished  ;  and  in  an  hour 
not  a  sound  was  heard,  saving  the  night  breeze  flapping  the  reeds  of 
the  latticed  windows,  through  which  the  white  moonbeams  crept 
and  threw  their  long  lines  of  light  upon  the  marble  floors  of  that 
now  silent  and  deserted  banquet  hall. 


CHAPTER  II 


THE      REGATTA. 

There  were  a  thousand  prows  ploughing  the  blue  bosom  of 
Tezcuco  in  the  bright  glances  of  the  morning ;  here  shot  by,  ono 
after  another,  the  arrowy  canoes,  and  there  the  more  tardy  craft 
toiled  upon  the  waters.  In  one  direction  came  the  barges  laden 
with  matter  for  the  market,  and  from  Xochimilco  came  a  fleet  of 
fairy-like  boats,  filled  with  flowers,  to  be  sold  in  the  great  city ; 
they  were  of  a  thousand  dyes,  from  the  deep  damask  of  the 
mountain  rose,  to  the  splendid  stains  of  the  beautifully  painted 
tiger  flower.  Many  of  the  boats  were  covered  with  boughs,  in 
which  were  woven  thousands  of  magnolia  and  acacia  blossoms, 
forming  beautiful  bowers,  beneath  which  some  peasant  boy  or 
girl  would  be  lying,  while  a  brother  or  a  father  paddled  the  light 
craft  on  her  easy  way. 

As  the  day  advanced,  boat  after  boat  began  to  assemble  in  one 
immense  fleet  near  the  city  ;  from  this  canal  could  be  seen  some 
nobleman  issuing  forth  with  his  beautifully  bedecked  shallop  ;  and 
there,  some  adventurous  youth,  ambitious  to  enter  the  race,  would 
be  driving  his  fragile  bark  towards  the  great  centre,  where  those 
who  were  to  contend  for  the  prize  were  momentarily  gathering. 
And  now  they  came  from  every  quarter ;  a  squadron  from  the 
south  towards  Iztapalapan  was  seen ;  and  now  another  came  in 
view,  making  their  westward  way  from  Tezcuco,  while  from  Te- 
pejacac  upon  the  north,  and  Tlacopan,  as  well  as  Cliapoltepec, 
upon  the  south  of  the  great  city,  numberless  other  vessels  could 
be  seen  sheering  the  silver  waters  and  hastening  to  the  spot  of 
attraction. 

In  a  short  time  a  superb  gondola  was  seen  cleaving  its  way 
along  the  lake  shore  ;  it  had  an  awning  of  azure,  studded  with 
stars  of  silver  and  gold,  and  the  portions  of  it  which  hung  down 
(26) 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  27 

towards  the  water,  like  curtains,  were  embroided  with  the  most 
brilliant  and  beautiful  feather  work.  The  vessel  was  long  and 
graceful  in  its  shape,  and  around  the  bow,  the  sides,  and  the 
stern,  were  various  figures,  elaborately  and  exquisitely  carved; 
but  the  flashing  of  the  eagle,  holding  the  serpent  upon  a  cac- 
tus, wrought  in  gold,  on  a  field  of  violet,  which  was  seen  dis- 
played upon  a  banner  waving  high  above  the  gorgeous  vessel, 
left  no  doubt  that  this  bark  contained  the  royal  presence.  Twelve 
noblemen,  with  even-measured  stroke,  pulled  at  the  oars,  which, 
with  their  alternate  blades  of  gold  and  silver,  flashed  in  the  sun- 
light with  each  returning  sweep — for  by  this  time  the  sun  had 
risen  above  the  bright  spires  of  Tezcuco,  and  over  the  mountain 
wall  which  barred  the  valley  from  the  east.  Long  feathery  lines 
of  light  streamed  down  through  the  forest  trees  and  scattered 
themselves  in  a  shower  of  gold  upon  the  glassy  bosom  of  the  lake, 
and  high  upon  the  dizzy  pinnacles  of  these  mountain  heights 
could  be  seen  thousands  of  half-clad  peasants,  collected  to  watch 
this  all-exciting  contest. 

A  general  stir  was  now  visible  where  the  craft  were  most 
thickly  crowded,  and  one  by  one  the  boats  which  were  to  enter 
the  race  came  forth  in  a  group  by  themselves,  and  the  surround- 
ing vessels  scattered  in  all  directions,  and  made  their  way  as  ra- 
pidly as  possible  across  the  lake  towards  the  city  of  Tezcuco.  A 
number  of  small  boats  next  came  up,  and  towed  the  contesting 
vessels  in  the  same  direction. 

In  the  first  boat,  which  was  an  elegantly  ornamented  wherry, 
painted  white  and  azure,  with  an  outspread  eagle  stretching  from 
the  bow,  as  if  ready  to  cleave  the  air,  sat  Cuitlahua,  prince  of 
Iztapalapan  ;  the  boat  which  he  was  now  in  was  the  Emperor 
Montezuma's  favorite  clipper,  and  safely  might  the  monarch  trust 
his  interest  with  his  brother,  for  Cuitlahua,  as  he  sat  bare,  save 
a  brilliant  girdle  round  the  loins,  displayed  a  form  well  fitted  for 
the  task. 

The  next  in  the  line  which  were  taking  their  way  across  to 
the  starting  point,  was  Cuicuitca's  vessel ;  it  was  painted  bright 
red,  and  bore  a  scarlet  flamingo  upon  the  bow,  carved  with  great 
delicacy  and  skill. 

The  third  contained  Cacama ;  it  was  of  a  bright  purple  color. 


2Q  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

studded  with  stars  of  silver,  its  material  was  birch-bark,  and  so 
light  that  he  could  have  borne  it  upon  his  broad  shoulders.  The 
utmost  care  was  required  to  preserve  the  equilibrium  of  the  per- 
son who  undertook  to  stand  up  in  it,  a  thing  necessary,  as  the 
boats  were  to  be  propelled  by  paddles,  and  not  by  rowing  with  oars. 
The  fourth  competitor  for  the  prize  wore  a  soft  white  cotton 
mantle,  like  a  cloak,  wrapped  round  him,  and  fastened  at  the  col- 
lar and  waist  by  a  band  of  blue  ;  upon  his  head  he  wore  a  crest 
of  long  green  and  crimson  feathers,  which  curled  gracefully  to 
one  side,  and  looped  in^a  sort  of  light  bonnet,  upon  the  other; 
over  his  face,  hung  a  loose  veil,  which  foiled  the  attempts  of 
the  multitude  to  penetrate  the  disguise.  His  boat  was  shaped 
like  a  pea-pod,  or  shell,  long  and  arrowy,  with  an  elevation  both 
at  the  bow  and  stern,  on  each  of  which  points  an  eagle  in  the  act 
of  dropping  or  falling  could  be  seen.  The  bark  was  painted  per- 
fectly white,  and  not  a  spot  or  stain  could  be  discerned  upon  any 
portion  of  it,  without  or  within. 

The  fifth  and  last  boat  of  the  racers  was  a  model  of  grace  and 
symmetry  in  its  construction  ;  its  sharp  bow  offered  no  resistance 
to  the  water,  and  it  sat  upon  the  lake  like  a  swan ;  in  hue  it  was 
as  black  and  shining  as  a  raven ;  but  entirely  around  it,  just 
above  the  line  of  the  water,  ran  a  bright  and  beautiful  band  of 
crimson  and  gold.  In  it  sat  a  muscular  man,  in  a  mask  and  black 
domino,  upon  whom  the  eyes  of  the  spectators  at  hand  were 
as  fruitlessly  busy  as  upon  the  veiled  occupant  of  the  preceding  bark. 
The  five  boats  were  all  arrived  at  a  point  in  the  lake  where  the 
emperor  in  his  magnificent  shallop,  was  already  awaiting  them. 
In  a  few  moments  the  contending  prows  were  turned  toward 
Tenochtitlan  ;  it  was  a  beautiful  sight,  as  they  wheeled  gracefully 
into  line,  to  see  the  fine  contrast  in  shape,  color  and  adornment. 
The  parties  all  stood  with  their  blades  poised,  prepared,  at  the 
signal,  to  strike  them  into  the  yielding  element.  The  emperor 
now  rose  from  his  cushioned  couch,  supported  on  either  side,  while 
before  him  an  ofiicer  held  a  large  drum,  and,  casting  his  eye 
along  the  prows,  to  see  if  they  stood  exactly  even,  he  let  fall  his 
truncheon  upon  the  head  of  the  drum,  and,  at  that  instant,  the 
blades  struck  the  water  with  the  exactness  of  a  piece  of  machin- 
ery, and  the  boats  sprang  away  like  a  herd  of  suddenly  startled 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CKOSS.  29 

deer,  at  which  a  shout  arose  from  the  lake  which  was  answered 
by  those  upon  the  land,  and  re-echoed  from  the  mountains. 

Cuicuitca's  barge  led  the  way,  and  at  every  stroke  she  leaped 
from  them,  as  a  stag  springs  off  from  his  pursuers,  the  rest  kept 
side  by  side,  and  still  Cuicuitca's  bright  flamingo  flew  from  them, 
leaving  a  broken  silver  track  in  her  wake.  And  now,  Cacama's 
purple  birchen  bark,  with  its  stars  of  silver,  began  to  part  from  the 
rest,  and  shoot  on  after  Cuicuitca ;  and  now,  the  black  boat,  with  its 
crimson  and  gold  belt,  fell  far  behind,  and  a  laugh  was  heard  from 
the  many  boats  which  followed,  at  the  presumption  of  the  black 
dressed  mask  to  enter  such  a  race,  and  with  such  competitors. 

"  Ay  !"  one  would  say,  "  a  very  pretty  boat,  and  a  fair  oarsman, 
but  this  is  no  place  for  common-place  work." 

"Yes,  yes,"  another  would  reply,  **he  will  do  very  well  for 
the  fisherman's  race,  which  comes  off  next  week,  but  I  can  tell 
him  he  need  not  waste  his  strength  where  our  stout  king  of  Tez- 
cuco  phes  a  paddle,  and  the  still  stouter  Cuicuitca." 

"  Yes,  he  '11  do  for  the  fisherman's  race,"  laughed  a  dozen  voices 
at  once. 

"But,  neighbor  of  Tezcuco,  let  me  tell  you,"  said  a  voice, 
"  that  our  emperor's  brother  will  show  you  that  Iztapalapan  is 
the  queen  of  this  watery  region — mark !  now,  how  the  lord  Cuit- 
lahua  makes  the  royal  eagle  gain  upon  them ! — -see !  how  her 
white  and  azure  body  leaps  along  the  lake ;  ay !  ay !  look  at  that ! 
what  think  you  of  those  strides  ?  and  where,  do  you  suppose,  we 
shall  find  these  two  poor,  lame  ducks  which  represent  Mexico  ? 
fpr,  see  you,  he  in  the  white  cloak  has  also  fallen  far  astern.  Ah ! 
I  lay  my  life  it  is  some  stout  girl  in  love  with  the  fellow  in  the 
mask." 

"Ay!"  said  the  Tezcucan,  in  return,  it  was  a  sensible  move  to 
hide  their  faces  under  masks,  it  might  save  them  many  blushes.'* 
"Ha !  Ha !  Ha  !"  laughed  the  crowd,  as  with  a  rush  of  oars,  and 
paddles  they  pursued  the  flying  racers. 

By  this  Cacama  had  closed  with  Cuicuitca,  and  in  a  moment 
more  passed  slowly  by,  and  took  the  lead,  and  a  shout  of  applaus.e 
was  heard  from  the  Tezcucans  as  their  champions  swept  ahead. 
And  now  the  strength  of  Cuitlahua  began  to  manifest  itself,  aa' 
he  cleft  the  waters,  and  came  up  close  with  Cuicuitca,  and,  mov- 


30  MALMIZTIC,    THK    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

ing  steadily  by  him,  he  ran  side  by  side  with  Cacama ;  and  at 
this  powerful  push,  a  loud  huzza  was  heard  from  the  boats  of  Iz- 
tapalapan,  and  the  emperor  and  his  suite  waved  their  hands 
in  token  of  admiration.  As  Cacama  and  Cuitlahua  drove  their 
paddles  with  even  stroke,  first  upon  one  side  of  their  boats  and 
then  upon  the  other,  Cacama's  birchen  bark  dipping  so  low  with 
every  sweep  as  to  plunge  her  thin  sides  under  water,  Cuicuitca 
struck  fast  and  hard  to  regain  his  lost  ground ;  but  it  was  of  no 
avail,  they  led  him  still,  and  now  he  found  those  in  the  rear  gain- 
ing slowly  but  surely  upon  him. 

"Iztapalapan  forever  !"  shouted  the  multitude,  as  their  favorite 
pushed  stoutly  ahead,  and  led  Cacama  by  the  length  of  his  boat. 
The  distance  to  be  run  was  seven  miles,  five  were  already 
passed,  when  cries  were  heard,  of  *'Well  done,  my  White  Lady  !'* 
**  Bravely  pHed,  my  stout  girl !" — and,  with  this,  the  snowy  craft 
darted  by  Cuicuitca  like  a  sea-gull,  and,  holding  her  way  finely, 
stroke  by  stroke  she  neared  Cacama,  who,  marking  the  gain,  made 
sturdy  but  fruitless  efforts  to  retain  the  second  position,  but,  find- 
ing that  although  he  made  his  light  bark  almost  leap  from  the 
water,  his  exertions  were  unavailing,  he  dropped  unw^illingly 
astern. 

Next  came  the  cries  of  **  Mexico!  Mexico!"  and  the  counter 
cries  of  "  Iztapalapan  forever !"  as  the  sharp  white  shell  sho* 
swiftly  up  alongside  of  Cuitlahua.  But  it  was  no  trifling  task  to 
pass  the  emperor's  favorite,  as  she  sprang  forward  with  each  well 
delivered  stroke,  the  foam  flashing  over  the  bow,  and  showering 
itself  upon  the  outstretched  wings  of  the  imperial  eagle,  but  the 
dropping  eagle  of  the  white  bark  seemed  to  be  gazing  over  its 
razor-like  bow,  and  scarcely  broke  a  bubble  in  its  cutting  course  ; 
away  they  sped,  like  arrows,  and  Cacama  fell  behind. 

"By  the  blood  of  Tlaloc,"  shouted  a  young  Mexican,  "the 
White  Lady  leads  !"  "  Huzza !"  shouted  the  multitude,  and 
scarcely  had  the  shout  gone  up  from  the  lake,  when  it  was  heard 
with  ten-fold  force  from  the  shores.  The  white  shell  was  now 
far  ahead,  she  seemed  to  have  risen  like  a  frightened  water-fowl, 
and  flown  away  over  the  lake  in  advance  of  all  her  pursuers. 

At  this  point,  the  boats  were  all  at  nearly  the  same  relative 
position  to  each  other,  the  white  boat  in  advance,  then  the  emper- 


THE    CAVALIEK8    OF    THE    CKObtt.  31 

or's,  next  Cacama ;  following  him  came  Ciiicuitca,  and  immedi- 
ately in  his  wake,  the  black  barge  brought  up  the  rear,  amid 
the  many  jests  of  the  shouting  multitude,  who  nearly  caught  u]' 
with  him  at  different  times  —  now  a  wag  would  offer  to  helj 
liim  row,  and  another  would  say, 

** Black  domino !  shall  I  tow  you  up  among  the  racers  ?"  "Nay, 
I  have  a  leash  of  land  turtles  which  shall  haul  him,"  cried  a  fish- 
erman, and  a  loud  laugh  mocked  the  black  mask,  as  he  quietly 
and  easily  held  his  course.  Suddenly  a  loud  burst  of  applause 
was  heard  from  those  who  followed,  with  cries  of  "Bravely! 
bravely,  my  black  sluggard  1"  "By  the  blood  of  Tlaloc !"  shout- 
ed the  young  Mexican,  "the  old  bear  has  awakened  after  his 
winter's  nap." 

And  these  cries  were  not  without  cause,  for  the  black  barge 
first  swept  by  Cuicuitca  as  though  he  were  standing  still,  and, 
darting  onward,  the  domino  flew  past  the  birchen  bark  of  Cacama, 
like  a  raven  on  the  stormy  blast ;  and  still  it  held  unchecked  its 
rapid  course,  leaving  a  line  of  bubbles  in  its  wake.  At  this  mo- 
ment it  closed  with  the  king's  craft,  and  the  struggle  was  tremen- 
dous, on  the  part  of  the  stout  Cuitlahua,  to  hold  his  own ;  but 
vainly  did  he  bend  his  sinewy  back,  and  clasp  his  paddle  with  ai: 
iron  grasp ;  the  raven  still  went  on,  sweep  after  sweep  it  narrow- 
ed the  space  between  the  white  keel  and  the  gold  and  crimsor 
belted  bark  of  the  black  domino. 

The  last  mile  was  now  reached,  and  the  shouts  and  voices  were 
no  longer  heard,  the  thousands  of  anxious  spectators  upon  the 
shores  maintained  a  breathless  silence,  and,  from  the  tops  of  the 
houses,  the  balconies,  the  wharves  and  the  quays,  countless  eyes 
were  watching  with  intense  interest  the  progress  of  the  two  fore- 
most boats  as  they  neared  the  land,  or  spot  where  the  flag,  flut- 
tering from  a  buoy,  marked  the  goal  of  their  exertions. 

The  white  and  black  boats  were  now  coming  at  a  tremendous 
speed,  having  left  their  competitors  far  in  the  distance,  the  white 
one  leading  the  race  by  a  short  space,  which  distance  was  per- 
ceptibly diminishing,  through  the  immense  power  with  which  the 
muscular  man  in  black  was  propelling  his  almost  magical  bark. 
The  contest  became  more  and  more  exciting  every  moment,  the 
figure  in  the  white  robe  now  bent  forward  and  dextrously  swept 


m 


3ii  MALMIZTIC,    THJi    TOLTEC ;    AND 

his  dripping  blade  with  a  rapid  and  graceful  stroke  through  the 
water,  and,  as  the  light  breeze,  formed  partly  by  the  bark's  mo- 
tion, struck  his  loose  garment,  its  light  folds  fluttered  in  the  air, 
and  gave  an  ease  to  his  appearance,  although  his  efforts  now 
were  of  the  most  trying  character,  the  long  feathers  of  his  bonnet 
streamed  back,  and  mingled  with  his  dark  locks,  waving  in  the 
wind ;  the  motions  of  his  paddle  were  characterized,  chiefly,  by 
an  even  regularity  and  graceful  sweep,  rather  than  by  any  extra- 
ordinary display  of  power,  or  rapidity  of  motion.  The  other,  in 
the  domino,  exhibited  more  strength,  with  less  grace ;  his  endur- 
ance seemed  superhuman ;  and,  as  the  two  boats  went  on,  each 
frail  bark  shivered  as  they  were  forced  along  at  this  terrific  rate ; 
their  thin  ribs  bent  almost  to  breaking,  as  the  oarsmen  leaned 
first  upon  this  side,  and  again  upon  the  other. 

The  raven  was  now  win^if  and  wino^  with  the  carrier  dove,  and 
neither  boat  gained  any  longer  an  inch  upon  the  other;  it  was 
the  pitch  of  their  speed,  neither  power  nor  skill  could  add  momen- 
tum to  their  impetus ;  they  almost  buried  themselves  in  the 
water  by  their  velocity.  Long,  bright  skeins  of  sparkling  foam 
shot  off  from  their  bows,  and  a  thousand  bubbles  rose  upon  the 
surface  of  the  lake  in  their  wake — as  they  swept  their  paddles 
from  bow  to  stern,  the  water  whirled  and  gurgled  in  the  eddy  of 
the  oar.  Every  nerve  of  the  rowers  now  seemed  strained  to  its 
highest  tension,  and  every  eye  on  shore  grew  bright  with  silent 
but  thrilling  excitement.  As  they  neared  the  mark  of  their  des- 
tination, the  pulse  of  the  great  crowd  seemed  to  cease  beating, 
the  hum  of  voices  was  hushed,  and  one  intense  feeling  of  over- 
powering anxiety  produced  a  silence  as  unbroken  as  that  of  a 
desolate  desert.  On  they  came,  dashing  the  crystal  rain  from 
their  sharp  bows,  and  rolling  off  the  white  foam  like  the  tossing 
mane  of  a  flying  steed;  and,  as  they  plied  the  paddles,  they 
darted  onward  with  a  lightning  speed ;  every  timber  shook,  and 
every  tendon  was  stretched — the  strife  was  terrible,  more  and 
more  fierce  grew  the  contest,  but  not  an  inch  was  gained  or  lost, 
they  sprang  forward  at  the  same  moment,  and,  to  a  hair's  breadth 
their  bows  were  even  at  every  stroke.  The  goal  was  now  hard 
by,  the  task  was  almost  over,  and  the  black  mask  appeared  to 
have  concentrated  all  the  immense  power  of  his  extraordinary 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    GROSS.  33 

physical  frame  for  one  last,  desperate  effort — it  was  the  effort  of 
an  expiring  giant,  and,  at  this  Titan-like  convulsion,  the  black 
boat  leaped  half  her  length  ahead,  as  by  a  spasm,  and  one  more 
blow,  of  like  character,  brought  her  stern  upon  an  even  line  with 
the  bow  of  her  snowy  opponent :  the  black  giant  now  gathered 
himself  for  his  third  Herculean  labor,  and  striking  the  blade  of  his 
quivering  oar  in  the  blue  water,  he  threw  the  full  force  and 
weight  of  his  whole  strength  upon  it,  when  the  trembling  paddle 
snapped  like  a  broken  reed,  and  the  white  boat  shot  out  ahead, 
beyond  the  black  raven,  and  passed  the  buoy  like  a  sea-gull ! 
whereat,  the  excited  host  sent  up  a  shout  that  shook  the  mountains 
for  miles  around,  and  made  the  whole  bosom  of  the  lake  tremble 
as  if  a  thunder-bolt  had  burst  upon  the  head  of  a  neighboring 
peak — peal  after  peal  of  shouts  came  from  the  top  of  that  moun- 
tain wall  which  girded  about  the  valley  of  the  lakes ; .  and,  as  the 
wild  sounds  flew  over  the  waters,  the  echoes  caught  them  up, 
screaming,  and  bore  them  away,  captives  to  the  far  off  glens  of 
the  dark  mountains. 

When  the  emperor  had  arrived  where  the  parties  had  landed, 
he  commanded  his  steward  to  bring  forward  the  beautiful  jewels, 
and  presenting  them  to  the  veiled  victor,  demanded  his  name ; 
the  last  named  person,  loosening  the  blue  band  about  his  neck, 
and  untying  his  veil,  doffed  his  bonnet,  and  displayed  the  hand- 
some head  and  dark,  flowing  locks  of  Guatemozin,  the  emperor's 
nephew,  at  which  the  crowd  sent  up  loud  cheers :  Guatemozin 
bowed  and  received  the  -casket  containing  the  jewels,  and,  after 
returning  his  thanks  for  them,  he  turned  and  said  to  the  black 
domino  who  was  resting  himself  on  a  block  of  marble  close  at  hand, 

**Sir  Mask,  I  know  you  not,  but  whoever  you  are,  to  you  is 
due  this  prize,  and  I  insist  that  you  take  it,  for  it  is  mine  only  by 
accident,  but  it  is  yours  by  desert." 

**  Give  me  your  hand,"  answered  the  mask,  "I  only  ask  the 
true  grasp  of  fellowship  in  its  noble  touch,  and  I  am  rewarded 
for  my  labor,  for,  by  the  stars !  a  stouter  gentleman  than  thyself 
it  has  never  been  my  fortune  to  cope  with  !" 

"Yes,"  said  the  emperor,  ''give  him  thy  hand,  and  I  will 
give  him  another  casket  myself.     But,  Sir  Mask,  since  the  sports 


34  THE    OAVALIERS    OF   THE    CROSS. 

are  concluded,  you  cannot  refuse  to  give  me  your  name,  that  I 
may  make  it  honorable." 

*'  You  have  it,  sire,"  said  Malmiztic,  stripping  off  his  mask 
and  domino,  and  developing  his  massive,  magnilicent  head.  The 
mob  shrank  back  instinctively,  with  evident  signs  of  dread  from 
his  mysterious  presence  and  its  influence. 

**  Come  hither,  my  good  friend  Malmiztic,"  said  the  emperor, 
**  I  can  give  you  no  jewels  so  beautiful  as  you  have  in  your  cabi- 
net ;  but  you  will  accept  this  casket  from  me  as  your  friend ;  but 
for  my  promise  of  making  your  name  honorable,  in  honors  my 
treasury  or  power  has  nothing  in  its  gift  which  could  add  lustre 
tolhe  name  of  Malmiztic." 

The  Toltec  bowed  his  majestic  head,  clustering  with  its  raven 
locks,  before  Montezuma,  and  received  from  his  hands  a  box  of 
beautiful  wood  and  workmanship,  curiously  shaped  and  inlaid 
with  pearls  and  precious  stones.  The  emperor  then  entered  his 
palanquin  and  was  borne  upon  the  shoulders  of  his  nobles  to  the 
royal  palace ;  and  the  populace,  bending  low  as  he  passed,  dis- 
persed themselves  in  various  directions. 


CHAPTER  III. 


It  was  a  night  of  rejoicing  in  the  great  city  of  Mexico ;  from 
numbers  of  palace  windows  countless  lights  were  gleaming,  and 
along  the  smooth  stone  pavements  crowds  of  gaily- dressed  citi- 
zens were  strollinof  about  in  the  soft  niMit  air  of  the  south.  It 
had  been  a  day  of  feasting  and  gaiety,  and  the  multitude  had 
now  come  forth  to  listen  to  the  many  musicians  who  were  assem- 
bled in  the  great  park  of  this  rich  capital,  which  park  was  a 
square,  surrounded  by  buildings,  which  would  vie  with  oriental 
palaces  for  symmetry  of  architecture  and  elegance  of  appear- 
ance. The  square  was  thickly  studded  with  all  the  beautiful 
trees  indigenous  to  the  tropics,  and  was  a  wilderness  of  beauty  in 
the  heart  of  the  city.  Paths  and  roads  wound  through  its  shade 
in  intricate  serpentine  rounds,  and  thousands  of  vines  and  creep- 
ing plants  entwined  themselves  around  the  forest  trees,  and  formed 
bowers,  beneath  whose  shadows  thousands  were  sitting  in  various 
parts  of  these  extensive  grounds,  talking,  singing,  or  making  the 
night  musical  by  accompanying  their  voices  with  instruments 
which  breathed  forth  soft  and  bewitching  melodies ;  while  over- 
head in  the  branches  of  the  trees,  hidden  by  the  polished  leaves, 
innumerable  mocking-birds  swelled  their  throats  to  imitate  the 
strains,  and  warbled  forth  an  ever-varying  minstrelsy  of  their 
own.  Interspersed  through  the  gardens  Avere  fountains  of  fanci- 
ful device,  ornamented  by  grotesque  figures  and  carvings,  over 
whose  sides  cool  waters  fell  with  a  thousand  liquid  sparkles  into 
broad  basins  of  stone  below ;'  and  upon  these  pools  the  moonlight 
rested,  and  the  shadows  from  the  waving  trees  played  over  their 
surfaces  of  silver,  and  many  were  the  bunches  of  bright  and 
crimson  berries  that  bent  sportively  from  the  breath  of  the  night- 
breeze  to  dip  at  their  shadows  in  the  liquid  mirror.  And  many 
a  maiden  and  lover  sat  in  the  clustering  thickets  where  the  dense 

(35) 


36  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC ;    ASD 

foliage  secured  them  from  the  eyes  of  the  passing  multitude,  and 
where  the  fragrance  of  flowers  formed  an  atmosphere  fitted  to  be 
breathed  by  those  whose  words  are  warm  with  devotion,  and 
whose  hearts  beat  with  the  sympathetic  concord  of  love.  The 
gardens  were  the  common  property  of  all,  and  in  the  groves 
could  be  seen  persons  of  all  ranks,  from  the  poorest  peasant, 
dressed  in  the  coarsest  nequen,  the  white  cloth  made  from  the 
thread  of  the  aloe,  to  the  highest  nobleman,  in  the  finest  stufi's, 
embroidered  with  feather-work,  the  unique  but  beautiful  costume 
of  the  great.  All  took  an  interest  in  the  grounds  ;  each  felt  that 
he  had  part  and  parcel  in  them,  and  that  too  much  care  could 
not  be  bestowed  in  preserving  the  ornaments,  trees,  flowers,  and 
fountains  by  which  they  were  decorated  and  embellished.  The 
disposition  to  destroy,  in  those  who  have  access  to  restricted  spots, 
was  here  unknown,  and  the  lowliest  hand  that  brought  a  flower 
from  the  forest  was  here  furnished  a  bed  where  he  might  plant 
it,  to  bloom  as  the  delight  of  a  thousand  eyes.  Countless  dahlias 
bowed  their  purple  and  gold  heads  to  hedges  of  ruby  lipped 
roses.  The  scarlet  cactus,  and  her  many  thorny  sisters,  stood  as 
the  guardians  to  protect  the  more  delicate  plants  from  the  intrud- 
ing step  of  the  stranger ;  and  the  fragrant  daughter  of  the  moon, 
the  night-blooming  ceres,  opened  her  cup  of  incense  in  the  dark- 
ness. Merry  groups,  in«various  parts  of  the  garden  or  park,  in 
places  prepared  for  them,  were  dancing  gaily  to  the  pleasing  pip- 
ings of  reed  flutes  and  tlie  mellow  and  sonorous  sound  of  horns 
and  atabals  ;  and  many  were  the  sports  and  pastimes  which  were 
progressing  in  various  parts  of  the  place.  One  party  would  be 
gathering  flowers  for  the  fete  of  the  moiTow ;  and  another  would 
be  watching  the  gold  and  silver  fish  glide  through  the  crystal 
floods  of  the  fountains.  And  thus  they  rambled  on  for  the  even- 
ing hours  through  this  Eden-like  scene,  until  the  quiet  stars 
would  admonish  them  to  retire. 

In  a  quiet,  leafy,  embowered  nook,  near  the  emperor's  palace, 
in  this  garden,  sat  Tecalco,  Montezuma's  beautiful  daughter,  and 
by  her  side,  carelessly  lying  in  his  dark  mantle  upon  the  mossy 
and  velvet-like  sod,  was  the  mysterious  Toltec ;  his  dark  eyes 
were  turned  upward  towards  her  face,  as  he  said  : 

"Tecalco,  we  have  known  each  otheivlong,  and  yet  you  say 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  37 

there  is  something  about  me  which  you  cannot  comprehend,  some 
strange  riddle  yet  unexplained.  It  is  true,  young  friend,  there 
are  depths  in  my  lieart  which  are  still  unfathomed,  and  I  would 
not  have  the  rude  world  busy  making  their  soundings  therein.  I 
do  walk  behind  a  mask,  as  you  say,  a  veil,  through  which  the 
peering  crowd  can  never  penetrate  ;  but,  Tecalco,  I  would  have 
you  know  this  seeming  mystery  ;  it  has  no  magic  for  its  founda- 
tion, as  the  foolish  world  think,  or  as  the  base  priests  would  have 
them  beheve ;  mine  is  the  philosophy  which  strips  the  disguises 
from  nature,  and  opens  fields  of  beauty  and  knowledge  upon  the 
sterile  desert.  Ignorance  stands  blinded  in  the  dark  doorway  of 
nature's  vast  temple,  while  the  course  of  investigation  is  ever  on- 
ward, and  before  it  the  barred  doors  fly  open,  and  a  thousand 
new  lights  burst  upon  the  delighted  vision  ;  we  must  not  halt ; 
this  glance  is  not  enough  ;  it  is  but  the  taste  which  gives  the  ap- 
petite for  the  feast.     Would  you  see  more,  Tecalco?" 

"1  would,  Malmiztic.  You,  who  have  known  me  so  long,  must 
know  that  my  feelings  for  you  have,  year  by  year,  as  my  life's 
blossom  grew,  unfolded  themselves,  leaf  after  leaf,  to  the  sun- 
like brightness  of  thy  wisdom ;  and,  now,  I  blushingl}'-  bare  my 
bosom  to  tell  you  that  I  have  drank  at  the  fountain  of  those  eyes 
until  my  soul  can  quench  its  thirst  at  no  other  spring." 

As  Tecalco  spake  these  words,  the  broad  bosom  of  Malmiztic 
heaved  heavily,  and  a  sad,  sweet  smile  stole  over  his  countenance, 
as  he  replied : 

"  Young  maiden,  you  have  touched  a  tender  point  in  a  heart 
which  has  been  growing  cold  for  years,  and  warmed  it  into  life ; 
but  have  you  not  some  distrust  of  me,  some  secret  dread  that  I 
am  linked  with  something  which  is  not  suited  to  man's,  weal,  or 
heaven's  holier  purposes?" 

"No,  Malmiztic,"  she  answered,  "you  do  me  wrong  to  sup- 
pose that  I  have  ever  held  thee  other  than  thou  art,  or  seemest  to 
me.  It  may  be  that  you  have  some  evil  agencies,  but  this  heart 
shall  never  believe  it ;  never  shall  a  thought  of  mine  harbor  dis- 
trust, until  I  find  you  false.  I  have  had  dread  of  you,  but  not 
distrust ;  I  have  but  looked  upon  you  as  I  look  upon  the  stars, 
with  awe  and  admiration ;  the  glowing  emblems  which  speak  of 
something  beyond  their  mere  seeming.     I  have  felt  the  strange 


■:^^ 


38  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ,'   AND 

power  of  your  presence,  but  it  lias  been  with  a  sense  of  love,  not 
fear.  I  would  have  discovered  the  fountain  of  your  feelings,  but 
a  strange  spirit  guarded  its  mysterious  spring,  and  when  I  would 
gaze  into  its  well  of  waters,  I  found  that  spirit  fixing  its  magic 
look  upon  me,  and  1  became  spellbound  with  reverential  awe  ; 
and  as  I  have  grown,  up  from  girlhood,  a  love  for  thee  has  grown 
within  me,  and  I  have  yearned  to  ask  thee  whence  comes  thy 
magical  power  and  mysterious,  sacred  influence  ?*' 

"  Tecalco,"  said  Malmiztic,  and  his  broad  face  grew  bright 
with  a  smile,  "I  have  lived  alone  in  a  weary  world  for  years; 
my  story  remains  untold;  wherever  I. have  wandered,  man  has 
feared  me,  and  woman  shrank  away,  and  from  your  lips  I  have 
now  heard,  for  the  first  time,  the  confession  of  one  who  loves  me 
for  myself  alone,  one  who  knows  me  not,  but  relying  upon  the 
faith  of  affection  dares  to  trust  her  heart's  happiness  with  an- 
other. Ah  !  Tecalco,  I  have  spent  years  of  loneliness  without  a 
face  to  light  its  solitude  with  one  beam  of  love's  celestial  radi- 
ance. Men  have  stood  frozen  with  fear,  like  statues,  in  my  walk 
of  life;  others  have  bowed  with  reverence  as  I  have  swept  the 
sceptre  of  science  over  their  heads,  and  by  its  magic  touch,  as 
with  an  enchanter's  wand,  I  have  called  new  elements  into  life, 
and  given  things  inanimate  the  power  of  strength  and  being. 
The  learned  have  hstened  to  my  discourses  with  delight,  and  held 
my  opinions  in  high  estimation,  but  they  have  looked  upon  me  as 
a  mystic  idol,  whose  voice  was  oracular,  but  whose  heart  was 
stene,  and  beat  not  with  the  pulsations  of  human  hopes  and  sym- 
pathies. Priests  have  pursued  me,  like  jackals,  yelping  and 
howling  at  my  heels ;  and  if  I  took  a  stand  and  turned  upon 
them,  they  fled  as  though  a  host  of  sheeted  spectres  had  risen 
from  the  firm  earth  full  before  them ;  they  pursued  me  in  packs, 
and  if  I  crossed  one  alone,  he  slunk  cowering  into  his  cell,  as  a 
bat  or  an  owl  shunning  the  daylight.  Kings  and  princes  have 
feasted  me  in  their  palaces,  and  off'ered  me  the  first  places  at  their 
banquets,  but  no  seat  in  their  hearts  have  I  occupied.  The  pea- 
sant has  given  me  a  cup  of  water  at  his  cottage  door,  but  trem- 
bled if  I  placed  my  foot  across  his  threshold.  The  hand  of 
beauty  has  been  given  to  me  in  the  dance,  but  if  I  dared  to  ask 
a  feeling  of  sympathetic  afi^ection,  even  by  a  look,  the  eyes  of 


THE    CAVALIERfi   OF   THE    CROSS.  39 

beauty  would  close  like  the  contracting  leaves  of  a  selisitive 
plant,  and  the  fair  hand  shrink  shudderingly  away.  And,  now, 
why  is  this,  you  would  ask  ?     Shall  I  tell  you,  Tecalco?" 

**Ay,  Malmiztic,"  she  replied,  *'for  thou  canst  not  say  that  I 
shrank  from  thee  like  that  trembling  plairt,  but  rather,  like  the 
sunflower,  followed  thy  course  with  my  eyes,  and  lived  only  in 
the  light  of  thy  smile." 

"If  so,  fair  flower,  mark  me!  and  for  those  looks  of  kind- 
ness which  thou  hast  given  me,  when  the  world  has  turned 
upon  me  its  freezing  face,  I  will  tell  thee  a  thing  which  shall 
repay  thy  love  for  the  lone  wanderer  in  the  world's  wide  waste. 
I  will  tell  thee  my  philosophy ;  ay !  mark  me,  my  child,  I  say  my 
philosophy,  a  gem  to  which  thy  father's  richest  crown  is  as  poor 
as  the  meanest  mushroom  that  springs  up  in  the  darkness  and 
dies  in  a  day.  If  you  can  believe,  follow  me  into  the  awful  arca- 
num, enter  the  great  temple  of  nature,  and  leave  behind  you  the 
foolish  phantasms  and  fictions  which  dance  their  delusive  mazes 
before  the  minds  of  your  Aztec  priesthood." 

The  Toltec  now  drew  from  his  bosom  a  dark  book  clasped  with 
bands  of  gold,  and  studded  with  hundreds  of  diamonds  of  in- 
tense brilliancy. 

**  Here,  Tecalco,"  said  he,  "lies  more  wealth  than  the  mines 
of  Mexico  contain,  not  outwardly,  for  these  gems  upon  the  sur- 
face are  but  figurative  of  the  exterior  glitter  which  attracts  the 
eyes  of  mankind;  but  look  beneath  the  surface  of  things,  and 
there,  in  the  dark  depths  where  the  vulgar  gaze  reaches  not,  lie 
jewels  whose  lustre  is  imperishable,  and  whose  value  is  beyond 
computation.  In  this  volume  is  a  secret  whose  worth  is  as  far 
above  thy  father's  treasury,  as  the  snow-shrouded  peak  of  Ori- 
zaba is  above  the  ant-hill  upon  the  plain  at  its  foot.  Would  you 
know  its  history  ?  then  mark !  and  be  silent  hereafter,  for  yoUf 
the  first  one  that  has  loved  me,  must  hear  it  —  start  not  —  but 
listen." 

Malmiztic  seized  Tecalco  by  the  wrist,  and  his  eyes  flashed  as 
they  glanced  from  the  book  to  her,  while  he  spake  on  : 

*'  This  book  was  Quetzalcoatl's  !" 

"Nay,  Malmiztic,"  said  Tecalco,"  "you  do  but  sport  with  my 
credulity." 


40  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

"Nay,  by  the  stars!"  said  the  Toltec,  "it  is  true;  this  hath 
been  the  heirloom  of  mine  ancestr}^,  the  Toltec  kings,  who  dwelt 
in  Cholula  and  Tula;  it  hath  passed  from  hand  to  hand,  from 
king  to  king ;  yea !  from  century  to  century,  since  it  was  given 
to  our  Toltec  forefather  by  Quetzalcoatl,  who  sat  upon  a  rock 
by  the  sea-shore,  explaining  its  mysteries  from  the  first  hour  of 
the  moon's  rising,  until  the  red  rays  of  the  morning  sun  shot 
their  arrowy  lines  high  into  the  blue  vault  of  heaven.  '  Fare- 
well,* said  Quetzalcoatl,  *  I  go  to  other  spheres,  and  to  stranger 
lands  ;'  and,  as  he  spake,  his  beautiful  countenance  lighted  up 
with  loveliness,  until  he  became  so  fair  and  exquisite  that  the 
very  sight  of  him  was  enchanting,  while  around  him  shone  a  soft, 
sweet  light,  milder  and  more  delicate  than  the  lamp  of  the  glow- 
worm, which  glimmers  from  the  twilight  copse.  '  Farewell,' 
said  he,  '  good  king  ;  I  have  sojourned  a  time  in  your  lands,  and 
I  have  not  found  your  doors  closed  to  the  stranger,  nor  your  ears 
deaf  to  the  voice  of  counsel ;  practise  the  precepts  which  I  have 
taught  thy  people ;  suffer  no  sacrifices,  save  the  off'ering  of  flow- 
ers, and  preserve  peace  in  every  household.  What  this  book, 
which  I  now  give  yeu,  contains,  will  make  you  more  wise  and 
happy,  if  you  follow  it,  than  you  have  ever  been  before  ;  and 
when  you  go  down  in  the  dark  tomb  of  your  fathers,  one  of 
the  angel  forms  of  which  this  book  speaks  will  come  to  you  in 
death's  dismal  chambers,  and  bear  you  to  a  land  where  life  and 
joy  become  immortal.'  So  saying,  Quetzalcoatl  stepped  into  his 
wizard  skiff,  and  bore  away  for  Tlapallan.  In  the  grey  light  of 
the  morning  his  form  faded  and  dwindled  in  the  distance ;  and 
upon  the  shore  the  olden  Toltec  king  reared  a  pyramid,  and  had 
graven  upon  its  base  the  form  of  the  book  and  a  small  cross,  which 
were  the  last  tokens  which  he  had  received  from  Quetzalcoatl. 
Tecalco,  that  book  is  in  my  hand  !  with  this  key,  earth  is  no  mys- 
tery ;  this,  like  the  sun,  will  scatter  doubt  and  darkness ;  for  this, 
the  poorest  pauper  might  scorn  the  monarch's  crown ;  it  is  meat 
to  the  hungry,  and  water  to  him  who  thirsteth,  ay  !  a  living 
water,  whose  taste  makes  this  poor  material  frame  of  man  a  thing 
coeval  with  eternity." 

"  I  pray  you,  then,  Malmiztic,"  said  Tecalco,  "let  me  see  the 
book,  that  I  may  learn  what  it  contains." 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THK    CKOS3.  41 

"Would  you  learn  that  ?"  asked  the  other,  "  think  well  before 
you  speak,  because  you  must  prepare  to  make  a  wreck  of  your  pre- 
sent temples  of  faith,  and  on  their  sites  erect  one  glorious  shaft 
whose  spire  shall  point  to  heaven  eternally.  Pause,  then,  maiden, 
ere  you  say  that  you  are  prepared  to  hear  its  sacred  secret." 

**I  need  not  pause,"  she  answered,  **if  your  own  deep  mind 
has  probed  its  depths,  and  proved  its  purity  and  truth,  I  will  fol- 
low, though  it  uproot  the  deepest-seated  principle   of  my  faith." 

**  Then  hear  its  first  principle,  and  wonder,"  said  Malmiztic  ; 
"  there  is  but  one  God !"  Tecalco  started  and  shuddered.  **  Yea, 
marvel  deeply,"  said  the  Toltec,  "for  it  is  a  thought  to  dwell 
upon,  yea,  dream  upon." 

**  But  one  God,  say  you  ?"  questioned  Tecalco. 

**  One  God,  and  one  only — an  invisible  and  omnipotent  Spirit," 
said  Malmiztic. 

**  That  is  Huitzilopotchtli,"  rejoined  the  emperor's  daughter." 

**No,"  replied  the  Toltec,  "Huitzilopotchtli  is  a  dead  and 
senseless  stone,  and  all  thy  Aztec  gods  are  but  the  forms  and 
shadows  of  fictitious  traditions,  unreal  mockeries  of  the  mysteri- 
ous Being  whose  words  are  in  this  volume,  and  whose  finger 
points  the  lightning  where  to  drop  its  liquid  lance,  the  faintest 
echo  of  whose  footfall  is  the  rattling  crash  of  thunder  as  it  bursts 
from  the  black  storm-cloud — One,  whose  unseen  hand  lifts  the 
fallen  flower,  or  with  a  hurricane  sweep  fells  at  one  fierce  blow  a 
thousand  mountain  oaks,  though  they  have  been  rooted,  yea, 
riveted  in  the  rocks  for  ages.  Tecalco,  gaze  upon  this  book  with 
reverence !  its  characters  have  been  traced  by  a  divine  pen,  and 
its  words  are  hallowed  beyond  all  human  measurement ;  then 
answer  me,  fair  girl,  if  I  shall  show  thee  from  its  written  leaves, 
the  road  which  leads  to  heaven's  happiness;  art  thou  willing 
to  follow  its  directions,  leaving  thy  dead  gods  and  stolid  blocks 
of  stone,  to  walk  in  the  light  of  His  holiness  whose  glory  is 
greater  than  mortal  mind  can  compass  ?" 

"Malmiztic,"  said  she,  "would  you  have  me  renounce  the 
faith  of  my  forefathers  ?" 

"Ay,"  he  answered,  "look  not  upon  the  things  which  the  eye 
sees,  for  these  are  evanescent,  and  but  the  ephemera  of  life's  day 
of  sunshine  ;  but  look  to  those  things  which  the  mind  beholds, 
4 


-12  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTJKC  ;    AND 

and  whose  duration  knows  not  the  limit  of  earthly  existence, 
each  thoug-ht  which  leaps  the  dark  gulf  of  death,  and  holds  in 
its  career  in  a  land  beyond  the  limit  of  the  grave  !  Ah  !  Tecal- 
co,  could  I  picture  that  country  where  the  faithful  followers  of 
this  book  shall  dwell,  the  glowing  tales  which  thy  priesthood  tell 
of  the  sun's  bright  mansions,  compared  with  that,  would  be  the 
picture  of  a  dark  lazar-house  ;  -of  black  caves,  which  sigh  perpetu- 
ally with  sounds  of  woe.  Yes !  this  mystic  volume  tells  how  the 
lone  hours  of  life  may  be  made  joyous,  and  death  but  a  bridging 
arch,  spanning  the  vast  void  and  gulf  between  this  earth  and  the 
outer  world  to  come  !  Say,  then,  will  you  pluck  up  your  former 
faith  and  burn  its  black  weeds  as  a  sacrifice  upon  the  altar  of 
your  heart,  as  a  token  of  a  new  faith  and  a  better  belief?" 

**Malmiztic,"  said  she,  "I  will  follow  thee  ;  but  as  I  let  go  my 
hold  upon  the  gods  which  were  the  hope  and  trust  of  my  fathers, 
my  footsteps  falter,  and  my  heart  trembles." 

**  Nay,  then,"  said  the  Toltec,  "be  firm,  and  fear  not ;  around 
the  God  whom  you  now  acknowledge,  a  countless  host  of  angels 
stand  forever,  and  if  thy  heart  grow  weak,  look  but  to  Him,  and 
He  will  send  thee  a  spirit  whose  snowy  arm  shall  clasp  thy  form 
and  bear  thee  safely  up.  Yea !  night  and  day  shall  this 
angel  walk  with  thee  in  thy  wanderings,  and  watch  over  thy 
slumbers.  Tecalco,  canst  thou  believe  ?  and  wilt  thou  love 
this  God,  and  follow  his  one  commandment,  to  love  thy  fellow 
mortal?" 

**I  can,  and  will,  Malmiztic,"  said  the  maid,  "and  from  this 
hour  thy  single  God  shall  alone  have  his  throne  in  my  heart. 
My  mind  shall  be  his  temple,  wherein  I  will  worship  him  in  spirit 
and  truth." 

"A  thousand  thanks  to  His  mysterious  power  who  hath  made 
thee  speak  these  words  !"  exclaimed  the  other.  "Press  now  thy 
lips  to  this  His  holy  book,  and  we  stand  pledged  to  the  same 
faith  forever  !" 

The  parties  knelt  upon  the  moss-clad  earth,  and  both  holding 
the  book,  fixed  their  eyes  upon  the  silent  stars,  which  looked 
down  upon  them  as  they  breathed  a  silent  prayer  to  Him,  whose 
form  was  hidden  in  the  blue  vault  above,  but  whose  eye  poured 
down  its  stream  of  light  into  their  souls. 


THE    CAVALIERS    Ob'    THE    CROSS.  43 

At  this  moment  footsteps  were  heard,  and  Giiatemozin,  with 
his  arm  around  the  fair  form  of  Teciiiclipo,  passed  onward, 
breathing  words  of  love's  pure,  warm  language  into  her  willing 
ear,  and  without  discovering  Malmiztic  or  Tecalco  in  their  thick 
shadowed  bower,  entered  by  a  private  gateway  into  the  emperor's 
palace  court-yard. 

The  morning  sun  rises  upon  that  beautiful  garden  ground, 
touching  the  purple  pine-apples  with  a  brighter  hue ;  rich  bana- 
nas are  hanging  upon  the  trees  ;  a  thousand  flowery  eyes  have 
opened  upon  the  day,  and  feeding  upon  the  ripe  figs  are  a  myriad 
of  many-colored  birds,  flaming  macaws,  parrots,  green  and  gold, 
warblers  dressed  in  rainbow  dyes,  humming-birds,  with  their 
emerald,  scarlet,  and  gold  glittering  bodies,  ruffled  necks  and 
purple  throats,  shooting  through  the  sunshine  and  the  shadow 
like  so  many  flying  flowers  ;  and  butterflies,  whose  broad  wings 
of  silver  pranked  with  azure  spots,  or  flecks  of  crimson,  touch 
with  velvet  feet  upon  the  downy  flower,  and  seem  but  a  living 
part  of  the  blossom's  beauties. 

But  the  quiet  nook  in  the  garden  by  the  palace  was  lone  and 
deserted,  for  the  proud,  mysterious  Toltec,  and  his  lovely  prose- 
lyte, the  emperor's  daughter,  had  long  since  gone  from  thence. 


CHAPTER  IV 


*'"We  also  understood  that  he  [Montezuma]  was  much  influenced  oy  an 
ancient  prophecy,  which  is  said  to  have  declared  that  men  would  come  from 
where  the  sun  rises,  to  rule  that  country." — Bernal  Diaz,  del  Castillo. 

Montezuma  sat  by  night  at  his  festal  board  ;  all  day  long,  dark, 
melancholy  clouds  had  shaded  his  brow ;  all  his  soothsayers  had 
been  called  to  interpret  the  wondrous  trance  into  which  his  sister 
Papatzin  had  fallen  ;  she  had  suddenly,  to  all  appearance,  died  ; 
but  in  the  midst  of  the  funeral  services,  she  had  risen  up  in  her 
shroud,  and  declared  that  she  had  seen  a  dark  bank  of  clouds 
rising  in  the  east,  and  she  fled  from  its  coming  wrath,  and  it  had 
spread  from  the  farthest  line  of  the  south  to  the  polar-star ;  gradu- 
ally it  climbed  the  skies  until  It  neared  the  zenith  ;  with  every 
moment  of  time  the  storm-cloud  deepened  in  its  darkness.  At 
the  farthest  eastern  verge,  where  it  joined  the  horizon,  the  sheeted 
lightning  lit  up  the  black  waters  of  a  troubled  deep,  and  its  awful 
glare  came  momentarily  nearer,  lifting  up  sheets  of  fire  between 
the  ebon  masses  of  the  rolling  clouds.  The  darkness  grew 
deeper,  as  the  storm  gathered  its  vast  billows  along  the  sky, 
^where  rack  upon  rack,  and  bank  behind  bank,  loomed  up  against 
the  high  arch  of  heaven,  and  caught  a  wild  but  magnificent  glow 
as  the  red  lightnings  played  and  danced  over  the  peaks  which 
pierced  the  region  of  the  stars.  It  seemed  as  hills  and  moun- 
tains were  riding  on  the  tempest,  and  sweeping  through  the  sky 
with  the  storm  blast  hurrying  them  onward.  Over  the  black 
mountain  clouds,  the  yet  unhidden  moon  poured  down  her  flood 
of  silver  light,  and  whitened  the  deep  valleys  which  lay  between 
these  dark  hills,  whose  crowns  shot  far  into  the  blue  heavens. 
Suddenly  the  stars  shot  from  their  spheres,  and  rushing  into  glit- 
tering masses  formed  a  new  sun  !  which,  shedding  a  bright  glory 
for  an  instant,  burst  and  fell  to  the  earth  in  a  thousand  brilliant 
(44) 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  46 

sparkles  of  fire.  The  moon  tottered  in  her  seat,  and  rose  like  a 
dying  man  from  his  couch,  and  staggering  through  the  sky,  fell 
headlong  down  the  walls  of  heaven,  and  disappeared  in  the  deep 
waste  of  the  ocean  waters.  Now  from  the  earth  tongues  of  fire 
rose  against  the  black  bank  of  clouds ;  lightnings,  like  the  ser- 
pent's fork,  shook  their  trembling  branches  overhead,  and  thun- 
der came  rolling  on,  louder  and  heavier,  until  it  burst  with  one 
tremendous  shock  in  mid  air.  The  wings  of  the  wind  were 
opened,  and  with  one  blast  the  forest  was  a  naked  field  ;  stick  nor 
stake  was  left  standing,  and  clinging  close  to  the  ribs  of  the  rocks, 
she  saw  her  brother's  palace  and  the  beautiful  city ;  and,  be- 
hold !  the  giant  spectre  of  the  earthquake  rose,  and  struck  with 
his  massive  mace  the  gorgeous  palace,  and  it  crumbled  into  dry 
dust.  He  waved  his  sceptre  over  the  city,  and  tower  and  cottage 
sank  and  disappeared  in  one  huge  mass.  The  earth  gaped  wide, 
and  in  the  yawning  void  the  whole  went  down,  and  from  the 
huge  black  gulf  black  waters  came  bubbling  and  boiling  up ;  and 
as  they  filled  the  space,  they  formed  one  dull,  dead  lake,  whose 
surface  was  as  lead,  but  beneath  it  was  a  waving  world  of  fire, 
where  thousands  in  the  midst  of  flame  were  struggling  to  get 
breath,  and  yet  they  did  not  die.  Smoke  rolled  along  the  fiery 
waves  where  the  tortured  mass  was  writhing,  and  its  denseness 
choked  them  as  they  gasped  for  a  draught  of  air.  And  there 
were  two  who  rose  from  that  seething  funiace,  unscathed  and 
unterrified ;  they  came  up  through  the  lake,  and  lo  !  they  wore 
wings !  The  one  was  Tecalco,  and  the  other  the  Toltec,  and  they 
sprang  away  from  earth,  arching  their  wings  for  heaven.  The 
black  veil  of  night  was  drawn  aside,  and  the  clouds  rolled  off 
before  them,  and  their  upward  course  through  the  skies  lay 
through  a  clear  space,  which  their  forms  traversed  as  swift  as 
shooting  stars,  until  they  entered  a  realm  where  millions  upon 
millions  of  beautiful  beings  were  enjoying  Elysian  raptures.  The 
two  figures  alighted,  and  were  lost  to  sight  in  the  midst  of  the 
crowd. 

Such  was  the  vision  of  Papatzin.  And  now  that  the  dead  was 
restored  to  life,  the  emperor  had  this  gorgeous  banquet  prepared, 
at  which  were  assembled  a  thousand  of  the  first  lords  and  ladies 
of  the  empire.     A  thousand  different  dishes  graced  the  board  ; 


"^W- 


46  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

the  country  had  been  scoured,  far  and  wide,  for  fruits,  animals 
and  birds ;  even  fish  had  been  brought  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
to  the  capital,  by  runners,  stationed  at  short  distances  apart,  in 
the  space  of  a  few  hours.  All  dainties  and  delicacies  which 
could  be  devised  by  the  most  assiduous  stewards  or  caterers  were 
provided.  The  lake  and  the  land  were  ransacked,  and  taxed  to 
contribute  something  more  than  they  had  ever  furnished  previ- 
ously. The  service  was  pure  gold,  and  this,  as  well  as  an  incredi- 
ble amount  of  garments  of  the  finest  feather  work  and  embroidery, 
was  to  be  distributed  to  the  guests,  after  the  feast,  by  the  munifi- 
cent monarch.  The  nobility  were  in  their  costliest  costumes,  and 
aromatic  torches,  as  they  burned  along  the  walls  of  the  great 
hall,  reflected  their  rays  upon  a  host  of  dark-eyed  beauties,  mag- 
nificently dressed,  and  glittering  with  the  sheen  of  pearls  and 
precious  stones.  Long  ranges  of  vases  adorned  the  room,  in. 
some  of  which  delicious  incenses  were  burning,  and  others  held 
living  flowers,  breathing  forth  a  countless  variety  of  the  most 
dehcate  and  exquisite  perfumes,  and  every  gale  which  came  in 
softly  at  the  windows,  from  the  thick  wooded  garden,  hard  by, 
was  heavy  with  the  spicy  fragrance  of  odorous  plants,  and  blos- 
som-bearing trees.  The  meats,  the  fruits  and  confections  passed 
away,  one  after  another  in  their  succession ;  and,  now,  the  crystal 
goblets  from  Cholula  were  arrayed  before  each  guest,  and  the 
menials  filled  them  with  the  bright  octli,  the  wine  of  the  aloe, 
made  purple  by  the  dye  of  the  cochineal — and  with  its  exhilarat- 
ing influence,  the  party  grew  more  and  more  gay,  until  mirth  and 
revelry,  song,  jest  and  sentiment  lent  their  light  to  the  glad  faces 
of  those  who  sat  at  that  banquet-board.  Joy  was  in  all  counte- 
nances save  those  of  the  emperor,  Papatzin  and  Malmiztic,  who 
sat  near  together,  conversing  one  with  the  other,  in  a  low  tone, 
while  the  roar  of  reveliy  was  constantly  increasing  around. 

** Malmiztic,  a  health  from  you,"  said  the  emperor,  "to  our 
sister." 

"With  gladness,  my  liege,"  said  the  broad  browed  Toltec, 
drawing  from  a  golden  ewer,  a  goblet  full  of  pure,  sparkling 
water,  and  raising  it  above  his  head,  in  his  right  hand. 

"Hold!"  said  the  emperor,  "you  do  not  mean  to  drink  our 
sister's  health  in  that  weak,  unsavory  draught?" 


THB    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  47 

"Ay,  my  good  king,"  said  Malmiztic,  "this  is  my  only  bever- 
age ;  it  is  a  drink  fitted,  by  its  purity,  to  pledge  thy  sister  with — 
know  you  not  its  character  ?  this  is  no  maddening  potion,  tortured 
from  the  rank  weeds  or  plants  of  the  dull  ground ;  it  is  an  un- 
stained fluid,  distilled  in  the  clouds  of  heaven,  cooled  as  it  is  car- 
ried over  the  mountain  snows,  and  rectified  as  it  comes  sparkling 
and  laughing  out  of  the  unpolluted  and  unchanging  rock — it  is 
the  everlasting  emblem  of  truth,  for  it  deceives  you  not  with  a 
feverish  delight,  only  to  sink  the  spirit  in  a  double  darkness,  as 
that  bright  octli  does  ;  but  it  cools  and  refreshes  the  parched  lip 
of  thirst,  and  leaves  no  poison  blister  to  follow  its  reviving  and 
delicious  draught.  In  that  cup,  my  lord,  which  you  hold,  there 
is  something  more  deadly  than  the  mere  poison  worm,  that  feeds 
upon  the  organic  frame  and  animal  principle  of  life ;  there  is  a 
demon  dwelling  in  its  depths,  who,  when  he  enters  the  temple  of 
the  mind,  will  hold  such  orgies  with  his  fiendish  legions  there, 
that  thy  soul  will  quake  with  horror,  and  strive  in  vain  to  shut 
out  these  terrors  from  its  trembling  and.  appalled  vision." 

"Nay,  nay,  Malmiztic,"  said  Montezuma,  "you  are  too  wild 
in  your  imaginings,  and  magnify  the  evil,  while  you  underrate 
the  wine-cup's  joyousness." 

"My  lord,"  replied  the  other,  "if  I  could  draw,  with  the 
utmost  stretch  of  my  fancy's  power,  one  tithe  of  its  unheard  of 
terror,  it  would  be  such  a  picture  that  thy  realm  would  turn  pale 
at  a  single  glance  of  it,  and  the  boldest  eyes  close  to  shut  it  out 
forever." 

"Well,  then,  have  thy  will,  thou  fearful  water-drinker,"  said 
the  monarch,  "but,  for  myself,  such  strange  forebodings  cross  my 
mind  continually,  and  such  dread  shadows  walk  in  the  very  sun- 
light of  my  thought,  that  I  cannot  escape  from  them,  save  by  this 
generous  draught,  whose  kindly  influence  restores  my  wonted 
cheerfulness." 

With  this  the  monarch  raised  his  goblet,  and  a  thousand  crys- 
tal cups  rose  in  an  instant,  in  answer. 

"Malmiztic,"  said  the  emperor,  in  a  low  tone,  after  draining 
his  golden  flagon  to  the  dregs,  "you  know  the  long  talked  of 
prophecy  is  yet  unfulfilled ;  for  years  we  have  heard  that  a  race 
shall  come  from  the  east,  by  whose  hands  Tenochtitlan  must  fall 


48  MALMIZTIC,    THE   TOLTEC  ;    AND 

and  her  children  be  made  captives ;  portent  after  portent  have 
we  seen  of  late  which  tells  of  some  direful  change,,  and  yet  my 
diviners  cannot  read  upon  the  horoscope  when  this  evil  shall  fall 
upon  our  nation — yet,  I  can  see  it  coming  in  the  dim  distance, 
something  whispers  me  in  the  dead  hours  of  night,  that  there  is 
a  hidden  thunderbolt  in  the  cloudless  sky  of  my  reign,  which, 
dropping  in  the  noon  day,  shall  shiver  my  empire.  Now,  you 
have  skill,  unravel  for  me  the  meaning  of  my  sister's  trance,  for 
by  that,  it  seems,  that  you  and  my  child  Tecalco  are  to  be  saved 
from  the  general  wreck,  which  destiny  has  fixed  as  my  kingdom's 
fate." 

**Sire,"  said  the  Toltec,  "I  cannot  answer  this  now;  in  time 
you  shall  learn  its  import." 

**Then  tell  me,"  said  Montezuma,  "for  you  are  said  to  know 
much  of  plants  and  medicines,  what  goodly  herb  dost  thou  know 
that  will  purify  my  blood,  and  make  the  melancholy  moods  of 
my  mind  take  a  brighter  and  more  hopeful  hue." 

''That,  my  sovereign,"  said  Malmiztic,  "lies  not  in  drug  or 
plant  to  cure,  but  in  the  due  control  of  over-sated  appetite ; 
banish  the  thousand  dishes  which  deck  thy  table,  and  let  some 
simple  food  suffice,  nature  demands  no  more,  until  artifice,  usurp- 
ing her  wholesome  government,  gives  the  body  those  unnatural 
cravings,  whose  excess,  overtasking  the  powers  of  life,  runs  the 
mere  machinery  of  man's  mind  and  frame  so  fast,  that  prema- 
turely it  is  worn  out." 

"What!"  cried  the  emperor,  "is  this  your  skill  in  pharmacy  ? 
to  make  a  monarch  drink  water  like  a  wild  fowl,  and  live  like  a 
hermit  upon  a  crust !  why  this  were  to  make  existence  a  burthen, 
and  life  one  perpetual  day  of  penance.  —  But  what  voice  is 
that  ?"  added  he,  starting. 

"I  heard  none,  my  lord,"  answered  Malmiztic,  "saving  the 
confused  hum  of  the  revelers." 

"Heard  you  not,"  questioned  the  emperor,  "a  voice,  as  if  of 
one  calling  from  afar,  a  loud  but  mournful  sound  ?'' 

"Not  a  murmur,  my  sovereign,"  replied  Malmiztic,  "in  which 
direction  did  the  voice  appear  to  come?" 

"As  from  the  gardens,  through  the  window,"  answered  Monte- 
zuma, "but  no  matter,  give  me  a  cup  of  the  bright  octli;  fill  it 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CR086.  49 

to  the  brim,  for  I  must  scatter  my  gloomy  forebodings,  and  forget 
that  the  voice  of  prophecy  has  ever  presaged  my  kingdom's  down- 
fall, by  an  imknown  stranger  race.  Though  it  be  not  my  custom 
to  drink  deeply,  yet  shall  the  feast  to  night  grow  crimson  from 
the  blushes  of  the  wine,  until  the  rosy  streaks  of  morning  light 
up  the  east,  and  dispel  the  clouds  which  hang  alike  upon  the  sky 
and  my  mind — then,  here  is  to  the  god  of  wane !  Malmiztic,  drink, 
if  thou  likest,  to  Tlaloc,  the  god  of  the  water !" 

The  monarch  held  the  glittering,  massive  cup  of  gold  aloft, 
when,  suddenly,  a  strange,  unnatural  shriek  or  scream  was  heard, 
and  a  huge  owl  darted  in  at  an  open  window,  and,  flapping 
heavily  on,  blinded  by  the  light  of  the  countless  torches,  he  struck 
against  the  goblet  in  the  emperor's  hand,  and,  hooting  wildly  and 
fearfully,  made  the  vast  hall  ring  with  its  unearthly  echoes,  as 
its  ruffled  feathers  and  mis-shapen  form  passed  out  of  the  oppo- 
site window  and  vanished.  The  guests  gazed  at  each  other  in 
mute  astonishment,  the  terrified  monarch  turned  pale,  and  his 
sister  Papatzin  said, 

"Montezuma,  it  is  time  these  revels  cease,  this  omen  bodes  no 
good  to  thee  or  thine ;  let  the  banquet  cease.** 

"It  shall  be  so,"  said  the  emperor,  tremblingly,  and  with  a 
pallid  gloom  settled  on  his  brow,  the  proud  potentate  of  the  Aztec 
empire,  stole  from  his  bacchanalian  board,  cowering  and  affrighted, 
even  in  the  midst  of  his  crowd  of  courtiers. 


CHAPTER  V. 


It  was  morn.  Before  the  altar  of  sacrifice  in  the  great  temple 
of  Huitzilopotchtli,  were  five  priests,  with  their  bodies  dyed  black, 
and  dressed  in  long  white  garments,  with  their  heads  covered 
with  leather  thongs  :  these  were  the  assistants  of  the  high  priest, 
the  sacrificer,  who  was  dressed  in  flaming  red  robes,  and  crowned 
with  green  and  yellow  feathers ;  emeralds  were  in  his  ears,  and 
from  his  nose  depended  a  large  turquoise.  In  his  hand,  he  held 
a  smoking  heart,  which  had  just  been  torn  from  the  breast  of  a 
victim,  whose  body  had  been  hurled  over  the  great  wall,  and  fell, 
a  mangled  mass,  below,  where  the  mad  multitude,  with  a  raven- 
ous superstition,  seized  on  it  with  the  ferocity  of  famished  wolves, 
and  bore  its  fragments  to  their  homes,  like  harpies,  where  they 
sated  their  ogre  appetites  with  a  horrible  repast  upon  human  flesh. 

Victim  after  victim  was  slain,  until  the  altar  was  clotted  with 
gore,  and  the  whole  top  of  the  vast  temple  was  slippery  with  the 
purple  floods,  hot  from  the  living  veins  of  the  unfortunate  priso- 
ners whom  the  Aztecs  had  captured  in  their  warfare. 

Hour  after  hour  had  that  altar  continued  to  reek  with  blood  ; 
and  now  the  train  of  priests  began  to  descend  the  broad  stairway, 
which  ran  entirely  around  the  exterior  of  the  temple ;  they  came 
down  singing  a  wild  chant  or  hymn,  and,  when  they  reached  the 
earth  the  servile  and  fanatical  mob  bowed  their  heads  to  the 
ground  as  they  passed.  But  there  was  one  in  the  multitude 
whose  form  was  erect,  and  whose  black  head  was  drawn  proudly 
back,  bridling  his  raven  beard  against  his  broad  breast,  his  eyes, 
dark  as  the  midnight,  flashed  lightning  glances  of  anger  and 
scorn  upon  the  bloody  troop,  as  they  went  by,  howling  their  hide- 
ous hymn. 

The  multitude  was  immense  in  the  vast  court-yard.  It  was 
a  moving  mass  of  thousands  who  now  hurried  to  a  neighboring 
square,  where,  in  a  broad,  open  space,  a  large,  round  block  of 
(50) 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  51 

granite,  like  a  tremendous  mill-stone  was  lying :  upon  it  there 
was  a  man,  chained  by  his  left  foot,  his  body  was  naked,  save  a 
girdle  round  his  loins ;-  in  frame  he  was  a  giant,  his  face  wore  a 
noble  expression,  and,  even  in  his  present  wretched  situation, 
there  was  something  in  the  settled  determination  with  which  he 
looked  his  approaching  fate  in  the  face,  that  would  have  almost 
melted  the  heart  of  the  sternest  foe^with  sympathy. 

The  emperor  came  up,  borne  in  his  litter  of  state,  upon  the 
shoulders  of  nobility,  and  halted  near  the  huge  stone,  upon  which 
the  gladiator,  who  was  a  noble  Tlascalan  captive,  was  chained. 

An  officer  now  came  forward  and  gave  the  unfortunate  victim 
a  bright  and  heavy  falchion  of  itzli ;  he  took  it  with  a  dull  indif- 
ference, and  dropped  his  fine,  large  head  sadly  upon  his  shoulder, 
and  pressed  his  left  hand  to  his  brow  in  melancholy  silence.  An 
Aztec  soldier  now  mounted  the  stone,  and,  in  a  moment  dealt  a 
blow  at  the  captive ;  the  gladiator  parried  it  with  his  blade,  and 
struck  the  other  a  returning  blow  which  broke  the  soldier's  arm 
and  laid  his  vitals  bare  by  a  frightful  gash  between  the  ribs ;  the 
dying  soldier  was  borne  away,  and  another  mounted  the  stone, 
and  he  fell  likewise  ;  and  yet  another  met  a  similar  fate,  and  even 
a  fourth  went  down  beneath  the  deadly  stroke. 

**  Away  with  you !  ye  base  born  vermin  1"  cried  a  noble,  spring- 
ing from  the  earth  upon  the  block  of  granite,  and  waving  his 
glittering  blade  in  the  air.  "Have  at  you,  Tlascalan  !"  he  cried, 
and  he  struck  the  captive  a  blow  which  nearly  severed  his  left 
arm  above  the  elbow ;  but,  the  Aztec  had  advanced  too  near,  for 
the  chained  giant  had  thrust  his  sword  at  him  with  such  force 
that  its  polished  blade  had  passed  through  the  Aztec's  body,  and 
stood  a  hand's  breadth  out  behind  his  back. 

The  noble  fell  off  the  stone,  but,  scarcely  had  he  touched  the 
earth,  when  his  brother  bounded  from  the  crowd,  and  stood 
before  the  captive,  whose  fallen  arm  hung  bleeding  by  his  side. 
In  haste  the  new-comer  struck  at  the  victim,  but  missed  his  aim ; 
the  Tlascalan  struck  in  return,  but  the  wary  Aztec  caught  the 
blow  upon  his  shield,  and  dealt  a  sweep  at  the  giant's  head  which 
sheared  the  ear  off  close  to  the  skull  1  At  this,  the  fiendish  mob 
set  up  a  shout  of  joy,  as  the  purple  streams  ran  down  his  sorrow- 
ful face  from  his  ghastly  wounded  head.     This  frightful  blow  was 


52  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

scarcely  delivered,  Avhen  the  Aztec,  seizing  his  advantage,  sprang 
again  jfiercely  towards  the  Tlascalan,  Avith  a  fatally-aimed  blade ; 
but  the  latter  stepped  quickly  and  adroitly  aside,  evading  the  thrust, 
and,  at  that  instant,  swifter  than  a  flash  of  light,  the  broad  fal- 
chion came  wheeling  through  the  air,  and  its  glittering  edge  struck 
the  Aztec  upon  the  crown  and  clove  the  head  wide  open  to  the 
trunk !  The  body  sank  upon  the  spot,  and  the  assembled  thou- 
sands sent  up  a  shriek  that  pierced  the  ear  of  heaven.  The 
wounded  Tlascalan  turned  his  sad  eyes  upon  his  dangling  and 
lifeless  arm,  and  the  streams  of  tears  began  to  flow,  and  mingled 
with  the  blood  which  coursed  down  his  neck  and  cheek.  The 
multitude  stood  appalled. 

"  Set  him  free  !"  cried  Cacama. 

"No  !"  shouted  Coanaco. 

"  No  !"  joined  in  Cuicuitca,  their  half  brother ;  "  he  has  fought 
but  six,  another  yet  remains  to  conquer." 

**  But  see  !"  said  Guatemozin,  "  he  bleeds  profusely,  and  has 
defended  himself  nobly.  I  pray  you,  uncle,  discharge  him  from 
his  thraldom,"  continued  he,  turning  to  Montezuma. 

**Nay,  cousin,"  said  Coanaco  to  the  emperor,  "command  the 
custom  to  be  fulfilled ;  the  captive  must  conquer  one  more  before 
he  can  be  free." 

"Ay,  such  is  the  law,  even  with  us  in  Tezcuco,"  added  Cui- 
cuitca; "is  it  not  so,  brother  Cacama?" 

"It  is,  indeed,"  replied  the  latter;  "but  were  this  brave  cap- 
tive now  in  my  city  of  Tezcuco,  I  would  strike  that  chain  from 
his  feet,  and  he  should  walk  forth  free  !" 

"But,  cousin,"  said  the  emperor,  "custom,  when  it  becomes 
law,  is  imperative ;  usage  demands  that  he  encounter  a  seventh 
antagonist,  and  by  that  usage  I  decree  that  it  shall  be  done." 

At  this  decision  the  crowd  sent  up  loud  clamors  of  approval ; 
but  Guatemozin,  advancing  with  an  earnest  and  entreating  ex- 
pression of  countenance,  exclaimed  : 

"  Then,  most  gracious  uncle,  I  pray  you  let  the  prisoner  have 
a  surgeon  to  staunch  the  blood  which  flows  from  his  head,  and 
bind  his  shattered  arm." 

"Nay,"  said  Cuicuitca,  "such  a  thing  is  unheard  of  in 
history." 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CRUSS.  63 

*'Itis  but  the  most  common  humanity,"  said  Guatemozin  ;  "it 
is  a  clemency  which  might  be  shown  to  a  dumb  brute,  far  less  to 
a  brave  and  gallant  soldier  relying  on  your  majesty's  mercy.'* 

"Enough!"  said  Montezuma,  frowning,  "let  the  sports  pro- 
ceed ;  I  have  decided  the  law — he  must  fight  one  more  !" 

"Fiend!"  said  Malmiztic  to  himself,  between  his  clenched 
teeth,  as  he  turned  his  flashing  eyes  in  the  direction  of  the  mon- 
arch, and  shook  from  head  to  foot  with  agitation  as  from  an  ague. 

The  gladiator  was  growing  weak  very  fast,  from  loss  of  blood, 
and  his  large  eyes  were  losing  their  brightness. 

At  this  period,  a  soldier,  clothed  in  a  coat  of  raw  hides, 
mounted  the  sacrificial  stone  with  cautious  distrust ;  he  bore  a 
short  but  heavy  maquahuitl  in  his  right  hand,  and  a  wooden 
shield  upon  his  left  arm  ;  and  as  he  walked  around  the  edge  of 
the  stone  he  surveyed  the  bloody  but  terrible  captive  chained  be- 
fore him.  Of  a  sudden  he  made  a  feint,  as  if  to  aim  a  blow  at 
the  back  of  the  victim  ;  at  the  very  instant  of  the  movement  the 
Tlascalan  turned,  and  his  red  falchion  was  poised  in  the  air ;  the 
soldier  struck  him  a  blow  upon  the  wounded  arm,  which  left  it 
only  hanging  by  a  shred  ;  the  giant's  sword  came  down,  but  the 
alert  soldier  caught  it  nimbly  on  his  shield,  and  sprang  aside  in 
the  twinkling  of  an  eye. 

"Huzza  !"  yelled  the  blood-thirsty  mob. 

"Bravo!  ray  Aztec!"  "Down  with  the  dog!"  cried  Coa- 
naco  and  Cuicuitca,  who  stood  close  to  the  combatants. 

The  Tlascalan  quivered  in  every  limb  and  muscle  from  the 
anguish  of  his  pain ;  but  his  firm  lips  were  closed  with  a  deadly 
determination,  and  his  sad  eye  is  now  glowed  with  the  ferocity  of 
a  maddened  tiger.  On  came  the  soldier,  confident  and  elated 
by  his  success,  and  drawing  his  maquahuitl  straight  back  over  his 
right  shoulder,  he  drove  it  forward  and  struck  the  giant  full  in 
the  forehead  ;  the  weapon,  turning  aside,  laid  the  white  skull- 
bone  bare,  but  did  not  cut  it  through.  The  captive  fell  to  his 
knees,  but  rose  on  the  instant,  amid  a  wild  yell  of  the  multitude, 
and  swinging  his  broad  blade  around  his  head,  like  a  vulture 
wheeling  and  circling  in  the  sun,  he  swept  it  horizontally  through 
the  air  as  the  Aztec  advanced,  and  with  such  superhuman  power 


64  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

and  swiftness  that  it  cut  clearly  through  the  soldier's  neck,  and 
the  severed  head  rolled  off  the  stone,  as  the  body  fell  with  con- 
vulsive twitches  where  it  stood  !  The  Tlascalan  pressed  his  hand 
to  his  bleeding  brow,  and  reeling  for  a  moment  in  his  position,  he 
sank  down  exhausted  and  fainting. 

*'Away  with  him,  and  sacrifice  him  at  the  temple  !"  cried  a 
voice. 

*'Ay,  sacrifice  him  !"  echoed  a  thousand  tongues,  eagerly. 

**Back!  on  your  lives,  you  villanous  monsters  !"  thundered  a 
throat  that  startled  the  mob  like  an  earthquake.  It  was  Malmiz- 
tic,  who,  drawing  a  sword  of  unknown  metal  and  intense  bril- 
liancy, mounted  the  block,  and  supported  the  head  of  the  nearly 
lifeless  gladiator  on  one  knee,  while  the  sunbeams  upon  his  sword 
almost  dazzled  the  spectators,  and  his  dark  eyes  darted  forth  fire 
in  their  fierce  glance. 

*'Away  with  him  to  the  temple  1"  shouted  a  huge  man  in  the 
mob. 

**My  lord  and  sovereign,"  said  Malmiztic,  "command  this  in- 
furiate rabble  to  their  homes ;  this  man  hath  wrought  his  ransom 
with  his  own  right  arm.  It  were  a  horrid  murder,  my  lord,  to 
sacrifice  him  now,  after  he  hath  won  his  full  redemption.  I  know 
him,  sire,  his  name  Tlamicol,  as  brave  a  man  as  any  in  Tlascala. 
I  saw  him  spare  a  son  of  yours  in  battle,  when  he  might  have 
slain  him  as  easily  as  he  could  have  crushed  a  worm  under  his 
heel.  Will  you  permit  this  mob  of  madmen  to  forfeit  and  violate 
all  rules  of  right  and  honor  ?  I  pray  you,  my  liege,  be  more 
yourself,  and  send  these  human  vampires  away  to  their  black 
dens  and  holes." 

** Hear  him  not,  great  monarch,"  said  the  high  priest,  "but 
give  this  thine  enemy  of  Tlascala's  blood  to  appease  the  anger 
of  the  god  of  our  battles ;  deny  it  not,  lest  his  wrath  fall  on  you 
in  a  fearful  form." 

"Whist !  thou  dissembling  mockery  of  the  dread  fiend,"  cried 
Malmiztic,  turning  upon  the  high  priest  with  a  look  as  black  as 
night.  "Most  noble  master,"  continued  he,  "  as  you  do  love  me, 
as  you  love  your  country,  your  fellow  creatures,  your  kindred, 
your  children,  your  fathers,  and  your  gods,  I  pray  you  spare  this 


THE    UAVALIKJIS    UF    THE    CROSS.  5o 

poor  Tlascalan  !  He  is  thy  captive,  not  thine  enemy,  and  ever. 
while  I  speak  life  seems  flickering  in  his  bosom,  like  a  dyin;., 
flame.     Have  I  your  answer  that  he  shall  go  free  ?" 

"What  say  you,  friends?"  said  Montezuma,  turning  to  the 
crowd. 

**  Off  with  him !  away  with  him  to  the  temple  !"  shrieked  the 
sanguinary  herd,  with  a  wild  and  furious  uproar. 

"You  hear,  Malmiztic,  what  they  say,"  continued  the  empe- 
ror, **it  must  be  so,  the  decree  has  been  spoken." 

No  sooner  were  these  words  uttered  by  the  monarch,  than  the 
mad  mob  sent  up  a  howl  of  frantic  delight,  and  the  vast  sea  of 
heads  swayed  to  and  fro,  waving  backward  and  forward  witli 
violent  commotion. 

"Away  with  him  at  once  to  the  altar  !"  exclaimed  the  hoarse 
voice  of  the  huge  man  who  headed  the  rabble. 

"Hear  me,  Montezuma!"  said  Malmiztic,  springing  to  his 
feet  and  pointing  his  burnished  sword  towards  the  emperor,  while 
he  fixed  his  glowing  eyes  with  a  piercing  look  upon  him.  "  Hear 
me,  Montezuma  !"  he  repeated,  in  an  awfully  deep  and  startling- 
tone;  "thy  days  are  numbered,  the  light  of  thy  heart  has  gon<' 
out,  and  the  darkness  of  damnation  fills  its  hollow  chamber. 
Thou  hast  asked  me  to  interpret  thy  sister's  dream  for  thee  ; 
hark  !  now,  and  tremble  while  you  hear  it :  Thou  hast  made  hu- 
man sacrifice  thy  pastime  ;  the  fearful  rites  originally  made  to 
frighten  your  enemies,  by  killing  in  this  horrid  manner  all  whom 
you  chanced  to  capture  in  war,  have  in  the  late  generations  of 
3''our  race  grown  to  a  common  custom.  These  hell-hounds,  who 
howl  around  you  daily  for  more  human  flesh  to  feed  their  insa- 
tiate gods,  are  blood-drenched  demons,  and  you  are  their  dupe  ; 
but  their  race  is  short,  as  well  as  thine.  Oh !  there  are  other 
fiends,  even  more  terrible  than  they,  who  are  now  waiting  like 
dragons  to  crush  their  sin  sodden  forms  in  their  giant  jaws.  Then 
quake  and  cower,  ye  priests  !  ye  harpies !  who  feed  your  unnatu- 
ral appetites  upon  human  hearts,  and  stain  day  after  day,  your 
altars  with  so  foul  a  dye  that  evening  blushes  at  the  gory  sight, 
and  leaves  your  horrid  deeds  to  flickering  torches,  and  the  mid- 
night's gloom.  Montezuma,  thou  Aztec  king !  fortune  has  fol- 
lowed thee  for  years  ;  conquest  has  pressed  upon  conquest  so 


66  MALMIZTIC,    THK    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

fast  that  thy  realm  hath  reached  both  oceans  ;  races,  civilized  and 
savage,  have  bowed  before  thee  ;  the  starlight  of  other  empires 
has  been  hidden  in  the  rising  sun  of  thy  glory ;  but  mark  me  1 
thine,  orb  hath  reached  its  culminating  point,  and  from  this  time 
it  will  rush  swiftly  down  its  sky  of  destiny,  and  be  buried  for- 
ever in  a  dark  ocean  of  oblivion  !  No  morning  will  wake  on  that 
dead  and  deserted  sea ;  but  the  shadowy  wings  of  forgetfulness 
will  close  it  out  forever  from  the  vision  and  memory  of  man.  Yea, 
monarch !  though  now  thy  might  and  majesty  reign  supreme, 
there  is  a  power  coming,  as  yet  by  thee  unseen,  which  shall 
shake  thy  massive  throne  to  fragments  under  thee.  Thou  shalt 
hear  this  power  coming,  ere  thou  canst  see  it  shape  ;  hear  it  like 
a  far  off  tempest,  which  roars  in  the  distance,  and  as  it  nears 
thee  in  its  devastating  course,  it  shall  crush  the  forests  of  thy 
strength,  hurling,  in  its  hurricane  might,  the  pillars  of  thy  pride 
deep  in  the  level  dust ;  and  when  it  bursts  upon  thee  in  its  wild 
and  terrific  rage,  the  foundation  walls  of  thy  palaces  shall  tum- 
ble and  totter  on  their  sites,  until  the  whole  shall  fall  in  one  vast 
ruin  and  universal  wreck." 

"  Seize  the  traitorous  Toltec  !"  cried  Montezuma.  *'  What ! 
will  ye  stand  by,  ye  varlets,  and  hear  your  king  and  priests  de- 
nounced !  your  very  deities  insulted  to  their  faces,  by  this  bold 
worshipper  of  a  strange  god  ?  His  speech  is  treason  1  Away 
with  the  daring  miscreant  to  prison  !  load  him  with  chains  1  con- 
fine him  in  the  deepest  dungeon,  and  in  utter  darkness  !  Why 
seize  ye  not  on  him,  ye  slaves  and  rascals  ?  Lay  hold  on  him,  I 
say  !" 

A  hundred  rushed  toward  the  Toltec,  but  fell  back  trembling 
from  his  terrible  glance. 

**  If  you  dare,  you  base-hearted  wolves  1"  said  he,  slowly 
drawing  himself  back ;  and,  with  his  hand  of  iron  grasping  his 
brilliant  blade,  he  continued  :  "  Lay  not  your  hands  upon  me,  ye 
vile  vermin,  or  I  will  make  each  foul  frame  a  feast  for  the  zopi- 
lote  and  the  vulture  1" 

"  Seize  him !"  shouted  the  monarch  ;  but  the  awe-stricken  mob 
fell  back. 

"  What !  do  you  shrink  from  him,  you  paltry  cowards  ?"  added 
he.     "Upon  your  allegiance,  I  command  you,  capture  him  1" 


THE    CAVALIEKS    OF    TUK    CROSS.  67 

A  dozen  maqualmitls  and  swords  of  itzli  gleamed  over  the  Tol- 
tec's  head,  and  around  him,  but  swift  as  the  stroke  of  hghtning, 
the  strange  metal  of  which  Malmiztic's  sword  was  formed,  shiv- 
ered the  brittle  blades  of  itzli,  and  the  maquahuitl  staves  were 
clipped  by  it,  as  stems  of  wheat  are  by  the  whetted  scythe. — 
Right  and  left,  before  and  behind,  the  desperate  Toltec  dealt  his 
deadly  strokes ;  the  lifeless  and  wounded  fell  around  the  stone 
of  sacrifice  thick  and  fast;  the  crowd  from  without  pressed  in 
with  overwhelming  force,  while  those  around  the  stone  struggled 
furiously  to  fly  from  the  dread  presence  of  the  mysterious  Toltec. 
The  pressure  of  the  dense  crowd,  as  they  rushed  together,  was 
terrible,  but  the  immediate  space  around  Malmiztic  was  occupied 
only  by  himself  and  the  dead  bodies  of  those  whose  temerity  had 
paid  the  penalty  of  rushing  upon  him.  He  stood  erect  as  a  sta- 
tue ;  he  moved  not  a  muscle,  but  his  burning  eyes  flashed  right 
and  left  in  their  sockets.  Not  a  man  approached,  though  the 
chafed  monarch  violently  repeated  the  mandate,  "Seize  himl" 

The  power  of  the  multitude  was  paralyzed,  as  by  a  spell ;  all 
the  former  rumors  of  the  Toltec's  magic,  sorcery,  and  enchant- 
ment arose  in  the  minds  of  the  mob  ;  and  if  death  could  have 
embodied  itself  in  a  living  figure,  it  could  not  have  stricken  more 
terror  to  their  souls  than  the  immovable  form  of  that  mystical 
being,  as  he  fixed  his  unflinching  gaze  upon  the  figure  of  the  em- 
peror, who,  pale  with  rage  and  emotion,  was  leaning  upon  the 
arms  of  Cuicuitca  and  Cacama,  in  a  state  of  exhaustion. 

A  cry  was  heard  from  the  crowd,  and  a  moment  more  disclosed 
the  form  of  the  huge  leader  of  the  mob,  who  had  thrown  a  lasso, 
with  unerring  accuracy,  over  the  head  of  Malmiztic,  and  the  run- 
ning cord  pinioned  the  arms  of  the  Toltec  fast  to  his  body,  there- 
by rendering  the  sword  in  his  hand  useless ;  in  a  moment  more 
he  was  bound  fast  and  firm  in  every  limb. 

Such  volleys  of  shouts,  screams,  and  yells  now  arose,  that  the 
sounds  arising  from  the  area  echoed  through  the  great  temple 
and  re-echoed  from  the  hills  without  the  city. 

"To  the  prison's  strongest  dungeon  with  him  !"  cried  Monte- 
zuma; "and  I  will  make  your  lives  the  penalty  of  his  escape." 

The  mob  followed  Malmiztic  away,  amid  wild  halloos,  until  he 
was  secure  in  the  dark  dungeon,  and  then  came  back  to  the 


53  THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS. 

temple,  where  the  higli  priest,  with  a  golden  spoon,  gave  the  heart 
of  the  noble  Tlascalan  to  the  hideous  war-god  as  an  offering. 

Montezuma  returned  to  his  palace,  which  was  near  the  jail, 
but  his  mind  was  upon  a  soul-rack,  appetite  forsook  him,  and  his 
purple  octli  was  tasteless.  Night  came,  but  sleep  came  not  with 
it,  and  at  the  dead  hour  of  midnight,  when  the  city  was  asleep, 
there  were  fearful  visions  flitting  through  the  monarch's  mind,  as 
he  lay  with  open  eyes,  trembling  limbs,  and  a  beating  heart  upon 
his  kingly  couch.  Suddenly  he  was  startled  by  a  terrible  reality  : 
screams  were  heard,  and  looking  out,  he  beheld  the  top  of  the 
huge  Teocallis  or  temple  wrapped  in  a  red  sheet  of  flame,  and 
the  thousand  priests  flying  in  Avild  disorder  down  the  immense 
stairway. 

In  a  brief  space  the  city  was  aroused,  and  the  great  court-yard 
of  the  temple  was  black  with  human  forms.  Inextricable  confu- 
sion followed ;  the  countless  priests  and  virgins  of  the  sanctuary 
fled  ;  and  all  the  night  long  the  flame  shed  its  crimson  glare  over 
the  city. 

The  gray  morning  dawned  upon  the  blackened  wreck,  but  no 
soul  could  divine  how  the  tremendous  temple  had  taken  fire. 


CHAPTER  VI 


"  I  SHALL  reverence  Cortes,  and  respect  his  name  as  that  of  a  civil,  mili- 
tary, and  religious  hero,  unexampled  in  his  career;  a  subject  who  bore  the 
freaks  of  fortune  with  fortitude  and  constancy,  and  a  man  destined  by  God 
to  add  to  the  possessions  of  the  catholic  king  a  new  and  larger  world." — 
Cardinal  Lorenzana? 

In  the  opening  of  the  sixteenth  century,  Diego  de  Velasquez 
was  the  royal  Spanish  viceroy  and  governor  of  Cuba ;  the  island 
key  to  the  western  continent ;  a  property  belonging  to  his  most 
catholic  majesty  Charles  V.  Among  the  persons  who  had  come 
from  Spain  to  this  garden  island  of  the  new  world,  with  Velas- 
quez, was  Hernando  Cortes,  a  man  born  of  nobility  in  Medellin, 
a  town  of  Estramadura,  and  educated  in  Salamanca — a  character 
destined  by  nature  to  form  a  shining  figure  in  the  conquest  of  the 
western  continent.  He  became  a  farmer  in  Cuba,  and  with  the 
fortune  which  he  thus  accumulated  through  the  labor  of  the  na- 
tives, he  conceived  the  design  of  fitting  out  a  squadron  to  explore 
the  coasts  of  Mexico  ;  a  region  only  known  from  the  shadowy 
accounts  of  early  voyagers.  He  was  a  man  of  good  figure, 
bright  eyes,  and  a  black  beard — a  catholic  crusader  of  the  six- 
teenth century,  in  whose  mind  ambition,  fortune,  and  religion 
were  the  three  counterbalancing  characteristics — one  gifted  with 
a  physique  capable  of  enduring  the  multitudinous  hardships  to 
which  the  yearnings  of  his  restless  spirit  subjected  him.  He  was 
in  his  third  and  thirtieth  year  when  he  prepared  to  embark  from 
Cuba,  for  Mexico,  in  search  of  that  El  Dorado  which  was  sup- 
posed to  exist  in  some  undiscovered  country  of  the  west.  He 
refitted  vessels,  which  had  formed  part  of  two  different  fleets 
which  had  successively  coasted  along  Mexico  and  Yucatan,  under 
the  command  of  Juan  de  Grijalva,  and  Pedro  de  Alvarado.  But 
the  command  of  a  similar  exploring  squadron,  Velasquez  had 

(59) 


60  MALMIZTIC,    THK    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

determined  to  give  to  another  person,  and  consequently  he  order- 
ed Cortes  to  come  ashore  ;  but  the  latter  was  not  a  man  to  be 
balked  in  any  design  upon  which  he  had  once  fixed  his  mind,  so, 
deciding  at  once  upon  a  desperate  venture,  he  slipped  his  cables 
by  night  and  stood  out,  with  his  little  fleet,  for  Mexico.  When 
day  dawned  upon  the  harbor,  Velasquez  beheld  it  vacant;  vexed 
and  enraged,  he  sent  other  vessels  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitives  ;  but 
the  search  was  fi-uitless,  and  ended  by  the  loss  of  most  of  the  pur- 
suing vessels  in  a  violent  storm  ;  from  which  fortune  preserved  the 
daring  Cortes  and  his  crew,  which  consisted  of  a  small  but  ex- 
traordinary body  of  men  ;  most  of  them  were  Spanish  gentlen>en 
and  soldiers,  whose  objects  were  personal  (^tinction  and  gain, 
combined  with  a  love  of  adventure  and  a  restlessness  of  spirit 
which  could  not  bear  the  confinement  of  mere  common  life,  while 
a  realm  lay  before  them  which  would  furnish  gold  to  the  fortune 
hunter,  and  novelty  to  the  romantic  adventurer. 

It  was  the  age  when  the  last  sparks  of  chivalry  blazed  forth  in 
a  bright  biit  dying  flame,  which  was  soon  to  go  out  in  darkness 
forever.  The  gorgeous  pageantry  of  the  Crusades,  and  the  era 
of  knight  errantry,  had  not  yet  become  a  phantasm,  although  it 
was  fast  fading  away,  like  the  expiring  splendors  of  a  crimson 
cloud  at  sunset.  The  pomp  and  showy  magnificence  of  a  well- 
arranged  troop,  was  still  an  object  of  the  highest  admiration,  and 
personal  prowess  lent  a  double  dignity  to  authority. 

Never  was  man  more  qualified  for  the  post  which  he  filled  than 
Hernando  Cortesi  with  a  vigorous  intellect,  he  read  the  charac- 
ters of  men  rapidly  ;  with  a  reverence  for  religion,  even  in  its 
outward  forms,  he  gained  a  character  for  piety ;  and  by  his  bold 
bearing  and  action  he  won  their  admiration  and  commanded  their 
respect. 

Among  those  who  were  with  him  Avas  Pedro  de  Alvarado,  a 
young  and  handsome  gentleman,  possessed  of  extraordinary 
grace  and  agility  in  his  person,  very  luxurious  in  his  habits,  but 
greedy  of  gold,  unscrupulous,  inhumane,  and  violent  in  his  spirit 
and  character.  ..    - 

Gonzales  de  Sandoval  was  manly  in  his  form,  with  chestnut- 
colored  and  beautifully  curling  hair ;  a  thick  voice  ;  in  age  he  had 
reached  his  twenty-second  year ;  he  was  free  from  the  vice  of 


k 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  61 

avarice,  and  he  was,  in  the  lano-uao-e  of  the  admirable  Clavio-ero, 
*'a  man  of  few  words,  but  excellent  deeds." 

Another  one  of  the  company  worthy  j(iif  note,  was  Father  01- 
medo,  a  priest  of  pure  character,  of  the  church  militant  school, 
honest  in  his  devotion  to  Christianity,  as  it  was  understood  in  the 
creeds  of  Catholicism,  of  which  faith  he  was  a  true  disciple,  but 
one  of  those  who  held,  that  if  true  principles  could  not  be  propa- 
gated by  persuasion,  that  the  standard-bearers  of  the  cross  must 
use  compulsion — the  theological  doctrine  that  we  must  be  cruel 
to  be  kind,  and  that  temporal  suffering,  no  matter  how  great,  is 
a  cheap  price  at  which  eternal  salvation  may  be  purchased. 

Such  were  some  of  the  men  who  landed  with  Cortes  on  the 
coast  of  Mexico,  and  afterwards  erected  something  of  a  fort  at 
Villa  Rica  de  la  Vera  Cruz — the  Rich  City  of  the  Holy  Cross. — 
Here  they  established  themselves  with  their  horses,  artillery,  bag- 
gage, arms,  and  equipage ;  and  shortly  afterwards  ambassadors 
arrived  from  the  Emperor  Montezuma,  in  the  city  of  Mexico,  in- 
quiring the  object  of  this  visit  to  the  coast,  which  had  not  escaped 
the  Indian  monarch's  system  of  espionage.  No  satisfactory  an- 
swer was  made  to  the  embassy,  saving  general  assurances  of  the 
pacific  intentions  of  the  Spaniards ;  with  this  the  ambassadors  de- 
parted, and  in  a  short  time  afterwards,  Cortes  marched  to  the 
neighboring  city  of  Chempoalla,  the  capital  of  the  country  of  tH 
Totonacas,  a  tribe  who  had  frequently  rebelled  against -♦ith  his 
thority  of  the  Emperor  Montezuma.  g  the  bleak, 

When  Cortes  arrived  at  Chempoalla,  the  curi^ty  particles  of 
been  aroused  in  his  companions  by  various  tl}Jursued  their  way 
region,  was  here  augmented  by  beholding  nature  seemed  to  be 
regular  streets  and  buildings  of  stone,  in  luxuriant  vegetation,  the 
tecture,  all  white-washed,  and  presen+iductions  of  the  fertile  soil, 
pearance,  shovv^ing  a  cultivation  far  jf  surpassing  magnitude  and 
and  the  neighboring  islands. 

The  Totonaca  king  received  Cd  through  a  region  where  the 
and,  in  a  short  time,  an  alliance  w;.  with  multitudes  of  pine-apple 

During  the  period  that  the  fe^^ Tie  the  plant  called  the  viper's 
hospitable  city  of  Chempoalla,  a  second 'as^ms  stained  with  yel- 
the  Emperor  Montezuma,  consisting  of  five  disti^  could  be  seen 
whose  business  it  was  to  repeat  the  inquiries  of  the  . 


C2  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

bassy,  and  to  order  the  Spanish  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  their 
rebellious  tributaries,  the  Totonacas.  Cortes,  distrusting  the 
faith  of  the  emperor,  b»^  conceiving  this  deputation  as  an  inven- 
tion to  ascertain  his  position,  secretly  connived  at  their  capture — 
this  he  effected  by  having  them  seized  by  the  Totonacas,  his 
allies,  while  he  appeared  to  oppose  it  strenuously,  and  throw  upon 
them  the  blame  and  burden  of  the  insult  and  injury  offered  to 
their  sovereign ;  and  ultimately,  by  apparent  intervention  with 
the  king  of  Chempoalla,  Cortes  procured  the  release  of  the  am- 
bassadors, and  sent  them  to  their  master  in  Mexico,  with  assur- 
ances of  the  purest  friendship,  and  the  information  that  he  would 
shortly  visit  the  Capital  by  order  of  the  Spanish  sovereign,  to  pay 
his  respects  to  the  Emperor  Montezuma, 

In  the  meantime  Cortes  visited  all  the  cities  and  villages  of 
importance  on  and  near  the  coast ;  and  after  sojourning  for  a  short 
time  in  the  town  of  Tobasco,  there  came  to  him  a  most  beautiful 
Indian  girl,  whose  name  was  Malinche,  which  was  afterwards 
changed  to  Marina.     She  had  seen  the  former  adventurers  who 
had  explored  the  coast,  and  acquired  some  knowledge  of  the 
Spanish  language  from  them.     At  the  first  glance  of  Cortes,  she 
was  captivated  with  his  noble  countenance,  and  resolved  to  re- 
nounce her  habitation  in  the  home  of  her  fathers,  and  follow  the 
arfaotsteps  of  the   Christian  cavalier,  who  now  went  to  Vera  Crux 
personaPJ^empoalla.     He  had  not  been  long  in  this  new  station, 
Never  was  u\  visible,  to  his  clear  mind,  that  there  was  disaffection 
Hernando  Cortes^f  many  of  his  soldiers.     The  privations  of  this 
ters  of  men  rapidly  ,  and  the  disappointment  of  minds  eager  for 
outward  forms,  he  gaine.scipline  and  restriction,  made  them  anxious 
bearing  and  action  he  won  3  and  return  to  Cuba.     But  Cortes  was 
respect.  -e  the  first  difficulty  which  beset  his 

'  Among  those  who  were  withmurmurs,  rather  than  attempting  to 
young  and  handsome  gentlemaith  a  small  party,  to  dismantle  the 
grace  and  agility  in  his  person,  v^e  mutineers  were  thereby  quieted, 
greedy  of  gold,  unscrupulous,  inli  purposes,  into  which  he  had  lulled 
and  character.  ,  ^erate  but  most  masterly  policy,  con- 

Gonzales  de  Sand oval^^  night,  the  dt^ign  of  boring  and  sinking 
colored, and  beautifv/s',  and  burning  the  remainder, 
reached  his  tv  disaffected  soldiery  beheld  this  they  were  petrified. 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  63 

and  the  explanation  which  they  demanded  of  Cortes  was  an- 
swered, by  his  saying,  that  he  had  caused  the  vessels  to  be 
examined,  and  that  they  were  found  worm  eaten  in  their  hulls, 
and  otherwise  wholly  unfitted  for  the  perils  of  the  sea. 

This  bold  step  daunted  the  conspirators,  who,  finding  no  means 
left  them  of  escape,  concealed  their  mortification  under  the  sup- 
position that  Cortes  had  not  marked  their  movements  ;  but  their 
scheme  was  betrayed ;  he  had  fixed  his  searching  eyes  upon  the 
traitors,  and  although  he  did  not  manifest  any  sign  of  having  dis- 
covered the  treachery,  he  watched  them  unceasingly  from  that 
hour. 

Having  crushed  this  serpent  of  conspiracy  while  it  was  young, 
he  determined  forthwith  to  strike  boldly  into  the  country,  and 
make  his  way  to  Mexico  ;  accordingly,  he  communicated  his  in- 
tention to  his  ally,  the  Totonaca  king,  who  presently  furnished  a 
large  body  of  native  soldiers,  and  men  to  transport  the  baggage 
and  artillery. 

In  a  short  time,  Cortes  had  completed  his  preparation,  and 
being  in  readiness  to  start,  he  appointed  Juan  de  Escalente,  a 
brave  and  excellent  officer,  as  governor,  to  take  charge  of  the 
fort  with  fifty  men,  and  left  instructions  with  the  Totonaca  king 
to  lend  Escalente  whatever  aid  he  might  require,  in  case  of  his 
being  attacked  by  an  enemy. 

The  preparation  being  completed,  Cortes  marched  with  his 
men  and  auxiliaries  into  the  terra  calienta,  passing  the  bleak, 
red  sands  of  the  sea-coast,  filled  with  its  sharp,  toty  particles  of 
stone,  they  left  the  desert  track  behind,  and  pursued  their  way 
•  through  the  hot  and  sickly  valleys,  where  nature  seemed  to  be 
striving  to  outdo  herself,  in  the  rank  and  luxuriant  vegetation,  the 
magnificent  forests,  and  the  prolific  productions  of  the  fertile  soil, 
which  were  in  endless  variety,  and  of  surpassing  magnitude  and 
beauty. 

Day  after  day,  they  journeyed  through  a  region  where  the 
cactus  and  the  giant  aloe  mingled  with  multitudes  of  pine-apple 
and  other  broad-leaved  trees ;  where  the  plant  called  the  viper's 
head  flourished  with  its  white  and  red  blossoms  stained  with  yel- 
low, over  which  the  chayoti,  or  vine  chestnut,  could  be  seen 


04  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

creeping ;  while  the  more  aspiring  vanilla  entwined  in  thick 
bowers  upon  the  stouter  underwood,  beneath  which  flowers  flour- 
ished all  the  year  in  perennial  succession. 

From  this  vast  valley  and  hot-bed  of  vegetation  and  diseases, 
Cortes  now  mounted  to  the  second  bench  or  plain  of  country, 
over  which  the  mist  from  the  sea  hangs  perpetually,  followed  by 
his  host  of  auxiliaries,  who  felt,  from  their  unprotected  manner 
of  dressing,  the  change  to  this  clime  of  clouds  and  fogs  most 
sensibly.  Still  journeying  onward,  they  traversed  this  humid 
region,  and  gradually  ascended  to  the  high,  dry,  and  healthy 
division;  but,  in  this  ascent,  which,  though  made  by  almost  im- 
perceptible gradations,  the  Indians  suffered  intensely;  their  want 
of  clothing,  and  not  being  inured  to  mountain  marches ;  afflicted 
them  sorely  and  severely  tested  their  fidelity. 

Here,  as  they  progressed,  could  be  seen  the  mountain  palm, 
with  its  fan-like  branches  and  spear-shaped  leaves,  and  thousands 
of  acacias  clothed  the  high  and  steep  hills  through  which  they 
wound  their  way.  Many  of  the  allies  were  weary  and  dispirited 
from  suff"ering  and  exposure,  but  the  ardor  of  Cortes  was  itot 
dampened  by  the  moist  region,  nor  cooled  by  the  toilsome  and 
perilous  ascent  of  the  mountains  in  their  upward  progress  to  the 
great  plain  upon  the  heights,  upon  which  dense  and  gigantic  for- 
ests were  marked  with  vast  tracts  of  lava,  which  had  rolled  down 
in  fiery  floods  from  the  pinnacles  of  the  huge  volcanoes,  which 
rose  like  monster  spectres  in  their  winding  sheets  of  snow,  and 
looked  down  014^  the  black  forests  upon  the  table-land,  through 
which  the  irresistible  torrent  of  lava  had  rushed  on  its  fearful 
and  devastating  way. 

But  ice,  nor  snow,  nor  mountain -wall  could  oppose  such  a  bar- 
rier as  could  check  the  course  of  Cortes ;  he  scaled  the  crag,  and 
bridfjed  the  ravine  ;  and  where  the  mountain  torrent  had  chan- 
neled  out  the  deep  barranca  in  the  torn  earth,  he  felled  the  forest 
trees,  and  made  a  highway  for  his  artillery  over  the  yawning 
gulf;  he  dug  roads  around  the  rocky  ledges  of  precipices,  from 
whose  overhanging  heights  he  hurled  obstructing  rocks  down  to 
the  dizzy  depths  below.  Sunshine  and  storm  were  alike  fruitless 
in  changing  his  determined  course ;    he  cheered  the  faltering. 


THE    CAVALIKK^     OK    TMH:    (H<()^^.  bO 

encouraged  the  disheartened,  and  stimulated  the  wavering  by 
visions  of  future  glorious  prospects  and  achievements,  at  which  the 
heart  of  ambition  leaped  with  a  new  impulse  and  life. 

Weeks  were  spent  in  penetrating  these  interminable  forests, 
and  winding  with  his  troops  and  allies  through  the  mountain  de- 
files and  fastnesses  ;  now  in  the  scorching  rays  of  the  sun  of  mid- 
day, and  again  in  the  chill  air  and  rain-like  dews  of  the  night- 
fall ;  now  marching  in  the  pure  sweet  breezes  of  the  hills,  and 
again  shivering  and  hiding  for  shelter  from  the  pitiless  peltings  of 
the  storm-blast,  as  it  burst  from  the  mountain  cloud,  and  ran  roar- 
ing through  the  forest,  beating  and  drenching  the  unsheltered 
band,  whose  brave  leader,  defying  the  might  of  the  elements, 
suffered  all  without  complaint,  and  wore  a  front  so  bold  and 
dauntless  that  the  haggard  and  despairing  eye  caught  new  life 
from  its  glance,  and  the  fainting  form  pressed  forward  with  an 
invigorated  step,  as  his  bold  and  thrilling  voice  bade  them  be  of 
good  cheer,  and  have  firm  faith  upon  the  Virgin,  who  would 
watch  over  them  in  their  perils,  and  never  desert  her  children 
who  bore  on  the  cross  of  Christ ! 

Thus  day  dawned  and  day  departed,  and  still  they  wended  on 
their  weary  way ;  by  night  the  ruddy  glow  of  the  volcano  blazed 
brilliantly,  illuminating  the  shadowed  valleys  and  far-off  forests ; 
and  in  the  golden  gleams  of  the  sunrise,  they  could  catch  glimpses 
of  the  huge  mountain,  clad  in  its  shining  sheet  of  silver  and 
ermine  robe  of  snow,  while  from  its  glittering  summit  rolled  off 
the  dark  and  lazy  volumes  of  smoke,  which  stretched  from  peak  to 
peak,  and  lay  in  a  long  rack  belting  the  farthest  boundary  of  the 
blue  skies. 

But  the  more  than  Roman  fortitude  of  Cortes  was  the  cement 
which  held  the  materials  of  this  band  together ;  his  own  proud 
spirit  led  the  way  with  a  valor  which  inspired  all  of  his  followers  ; 
he  would  picture  high  hopes  for  a  glorious  future,  and  the  fervor 
of  his  enthusiasm  kindled,  as  he  described,  in  prospective,  the 
golden  visions  of  wealth  which  were  to  be  revealed  to  them.  The 
disastrous  folly  of  returning  without  having  achieved  anything, 
and  the  probable  ire  of  Velasquez,  for  disobedience  to  his  orders, 
and,  again,  the  proud  prospect  of  extending  the  Spanish  dominion, 
and  paramount  to  all,  above  wealth,  the  sight  of  unknown  regions, 
6 


66  THE    CAVALIKKS    OF    TUK    CROSS. 

fame,  personal  pride,  and  honor,  came  the  transcendent  glory  of 
bearing  the  radiant  cross,  whose  blazing  beams  were  to  penetrate 
this  temple  of  paganism,  and  illuminate  its  darkness  by  the  true 
light  of  the  Christian  church. 

With  these  reasons  to  strengthen  them,  and  the  pride  of  chiv- 
alry to  push  them  onward,  this  handful  of  knights,  with  their  in- 
trepid leader,  marched  forward  with  the  gorgeous  baimer  of  the 
Cross  and  Castile,  against  an  unknown  nation,  and  into  the  heart 
of  a  hostile  country,  with  asjmuch  firm  resolve  as  the  most  splen- 
did party  of  Paladins  that  ever  sallie4  forth  from  Europe  to  draw 
themselves  up  under  the  walls  of  Jerusalem,  to  strike  terror  to 
the  hearts  of  the  turbaned  Paynim.  For  upon  this  long  and 
weary  march,  it  must  be  remembered,  that  the  holy  rites  and 
ceremonies  of  the  church  were  never  neglected  or  forgotten ;  for 
Cortes,  if  he  did  not  feel  their  influence  hiinself,  knew  well  the 
mystic  awe  and  importance  which  attached  itself  to  these  solemn 
and  imposing  services,  more  especially  in  its  effects  upon  the  un- 
tutored minds  of  the  wondering  natives,  who  were  his  auxiha- 
ries  ;  and  Father  Olmedo,  with  his  assistants,  lost  no  occasion  of 
impressing  them  with  the  great  truths  of  Holy  Writ,  and  the 
Christian  faith,  which,  whether  they  understood  or  not,  did  not 
prevent  them  from  becoming  proselytes. 

And  thus  marching  up  from  the  ocean,  upon  the  central  plains 
of  the  American  continent,  came  this  strange  band  of  military 
missionaries,  bristling  with  weapons,  and  sheathed  in  the  panoply 
of  war — yet  preaching  the  gospel  of  the  Prince  of  Peace  ! 


CHAPTEK   VII. 


Meantime  the  monarch  was  woefully  troubled  in  his  capital ; 
the  authority  which  he  had  attempted  to  exercise  over  his  rebel- 
lious subjects  of  Chempoalla  had  signally  failed,  and  the  impera- 
tive orders  which  he  had  dispatched  to  the  Spanish  general  had 
been  acted  on  diametrically  opposite  to  his  directions. 

The  state  was  in  the  utmost  confusion  and  discordance,  upon 
the  manner  of  treating  the  intruding  strangers.  Some  were  for 
driving  them  back  to  the  coast  at  once  ;  others  were  for  allowing 
them  to  come  to  the  capital,  and  then  to  seize  upon  them  before 
they  could  escape  from  the  country  ;  while  a  third  party,  believ- 
ing them  to  be  superior  beings,  and  suspicious  of  the  power  of 
the  new  comers,  considered  that  the  true  and  only  safe  poKcy 
would  be  to  treat  the  Christians  with  courtesy  and  kindness  ;  and 
to  carry  this  conciliatory  measure  into  effect,  the  monarch  con- 
ceived that  it  might  be  attempted,  and  if  a  contrary  course  should 
thereafter  be  deemed  advisable,  such  a  step  would  be  no  impedi- 
ment to  its  adoption. 

The  news  of  the  Arrival  of  the  strangers  had  been  brought  to 
Montezuma,  by  ipessengers,  the  morning  after  the  burning  of  the 
tower  upon  the  great  temple ;  which  inauspicious  event  had  occur- 
red in  the  night  succeeding  the  evening  upon  which  Malmiztic 
was  imprisoned,  the  particulars  of  which  it  is  necessary  to  state. 

After  the  capture  of  the  Toltec,  by  the  huge  leader  of  the 
mob,  he  was  led  by  the  lasso,  with  which  he  had  been  caught, 
amid  the  howls  and  shouts  of  the  rabble,  to  prison ;  here  he  was 
placed  in  charge  of  the  jailor,  with  the  injunction  that  if  the  latter 
had  him  not  forthcoming,  whenever  the  king  should  demand  him, 
that  the  jailor's  head  should  pay  the  penalty  of  his  escape. 

The  Toltec  was  loaded  with  chains  of  copper,  and  secured  in 
a  deep,  dark  vault  of  a  dungeon,  far  under  ground,  where  no  ray 

(67) 


G8  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

of  light  could  penetrate  from  tlie  world  without.  The  jailor  and 
his  assistants  fastened  the  copper  chain,  with  which  the  Toltec 
was  bound,  in  a  ring  of  the  same  metal  fixed  in  the  sohd  stone 
wall,  which,  by  the  yellow  glare  of  the  torches,  revealed  a  coat- 
ing of  mossy-like  mould ;  and  upon  the  damp  floor  were  scat- 
tered many  loose  skulls  and  decayed  skeleton  frames,  telhng  of 
others  who  had  pined  and  perished  in  this  gloomy  grave,  far  from 
the  cheerful  face  of  day,  and  the  sunny  smile  of  friends. 

There  was  a  moisture,  a  deathly  clamminess,  upon  every  object 
on  which  Malmiztic  could  lay  his  hands,  save  his  own  brow  ;  that 
was  hot  and  burning ;  and  as  the  jailor  and  his  assistants  depart- 
ed, with  their  red  torches  smoking  in  the  thick  air,  they  closed 
the  heavy  door.  Malmiztic  beheld  the  glare  of  the  lights  vanish 
in  the  distant  hall,  and  heard  the  huge  door  close  with  a  heavy 
crash,  and  jar  behind  them,  and  all  was  total  darkness,  an  impal- 
pable night,  without  one  ray  to  illumine  its  impenetrable  gloom; 
as  the  last  glimmer  of  the  torches  vanished,  the  sound  of  the  foot- 
steps ceased,  and  the  ponderous  door  swung  to  heavily.  The 
Toltec  turned  his  eyes  in  the  direction  in  which  they  had  departed, 
pushed  back  the  raven  locks  from  his  forehead  with  both  hands, 
and  then  clasped  them  across  his  broad  brow,  as  if  to  suppress 
his  intense  agony,  and  sank  down  upon  his  knees  to  pray,  in 
darkness,  desolation,  and  loneliness  of  heart.     . 

Hope  had  faltered  as  he  entered  this  living  grave,  and  Despair 
rose  from  the  damp  floor  of  the  dungeon  and  threw  her  black 
mantle  over  him.  But  the  Toltec's  silent  prayer  of  agony, 
breathed  in  that  subterranean  dwelling  of  death  and  darkness, 
was  heard  by  his  guardian  angel,  who,  with  its  unspoken  words 
upon  his  lips,  shot  upward  from  earth  through  the  fields  of 
ether,  and  entered  the  flower-twined  gates  of  paradise,  where  he 
spoke  that  prayer  through  his  celestial  clarion,  which  echoed  over 
the  Elysian  vales  until  it  came  to  the  ear  of  Him  to  whom  the 
Toltec  prayed. 

The  angel  waited  for  his  answer  at  the  outer  gate,  when  from 
the  high  battlements  of  heaven  a  herald  cried  : 

"  It  is  granted  ;  the  prisoner's  prayer  is  heard  !" 

Down  darted  the  spirit  through  immeasurable  space,  swifter 
than  the  flash  of  an  eye,  or  the  birth  of  a  thought,  and  ere  the 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    OROaS.  69 

shadow  of  the  moon  had  crept  a  span  upon  the  earth,  the  angel 
stood  at  the  dungeon  door  ! 

Malmiztic's  mighty  soul  had  sunken  within  him  when  he  con- 
templated his  condition ;  skeletons  were  his  companions,  and  free- 
dom had  fled  from  him  forever ;  the  depths  of  his  living  sepul- 
chre were  too  dark  for  the  blue  eyes  of  Hope,  and  finding  the 
last  ray  of  heaven's  light  departed,  she  closed  her  despairing 
lids  to  sleep  the  sleep  which  knows  no  wakfng. 

No  living  sound  was  heard,  not  even  the  sigh  of  the  night 
wind,  or  the  tick  of  the  death-watch  upon  the  wall.  Silence, 
darkness,  and  death  held  their  triple,  voiceless  reign,  with  no- 
thing to  break  its  dull  monotony,  save  one  heavy,  sad  sigh  of  the 
overwhelmed,  heart-flooded  Toltec,  as  he  clasped  his  hands  in 
the  exhausted,  hopeless  agony  of  despair,  and  fell  with  his  face 
upon  the  cold,  damp  earth,  among  the  decaying  fragments  of 
mouldering  human  bones.  He  was  not  dead,  but  sensation  was 
gone  ;  the  organic  life  had  action,  but  the  lamp  of  the  mind  had 
been  dimmed  as  a  star  which  is  covered  by  a  cloud. 

Long  djttf^  he  senseless  and  unwitting  as  the  skeletons  which 
were  scaKed  around  upon  the  cold,  wet  earth  of  the  dungeon 
floor.  iS  lay  as  in  a  trance,  but  through  his  mind,  half  like  a 
dream  and  half  like  a  fancy,  came  an  indistinct  idea  of  a  sound, 
a  thing,  which,  in  the  awful  silence  of  that  dungeon  vault,  seemed 
like  the  very  echo  of  a  spectre's  voice,  the  mere  shadow  of  a 
sound.  Again  it  came,  indistinct  and  indefinite,  not  louder  than 
the  lightest  breeze,  which,  dying  with  the  daylight,  lifts  the  leaf 
of  the  lily  to  kiss  her  ere  she  falls  to  sleep,  and  loses  herself  in 
a  dream  of  darkness.     " 

Once  more  it  was  heard,  like  the  murmur  of  the  sea-shell, 
which,  though  at  hand,  has  a  hum  as  if  of  a  sound  of  far-ofi*, 
roaring  waters.  It  came  again  ;  it  was  as  a  clod  upon  the  coflin- 
lid  of  hope  ;  it  awoke  the  sleeper. 

Malmiztic  rose  upon  one  knee,  his  head  was  bent  in  the  direc- 
tion from  whence  he  imagined  the  sound  proceeded,  and  he 
gazed,  motionless  and  silently  through  the  black  void  towards  the 
same  spot,  with  one  hand  behind  his  ear  and  the  other  upon  his 
brow  ;  in  a  moment  more  a  beam  of  light  caught  his  eye  through 
a  cranny  -oi  the  wall,  and  gradually  a  huge  stone  was  seen  to 


70  MALMIZTIU,    THE    TULTfiC  ;    AJST) 

turn  easily,  as  if  upon  a  pivot,  and  in  the  space  which  it  disclosed, 
a  i^rm  appeared,  bearing  a  blazing  torch  in  its  hand. 

A  thought  rushed  across  his  brain  like  lightning ;  he  was  no 
longer  himself;  he  was  not  the  mortal  Malmiztic  ;  he  had  passed 
the  gates  of  death,  and  this  was  a  messenger  of  light,  sent  by 
the  Holy  One,  to  whon:  he  had  devoted  his  hfe,  and  was  now 
come  to  lead  him  to  the  land  where  the  faithful  find  their  ulti- 
mate reward. 

A  smile  came  over  the  countenance  of  the  apparition,  and  then 
he  doubted  if  this  were  a  phantom.  Again  it  smiled,  and  beauty 
flashed  from  its  eyes  and  played  around  its  exquisite  mouth ; 
now  his  mind  was  resolved,  that  smile  was  a  human  smile,  and 
that  look  a  living  look,  and  one  that  he  loved  beyond  all  beings 
on  the  earth  beside.  The  figure  stepped  through  the  aperture  in 
the  wall,  which  it  had  opened,  and  entering  the  dungeon,  whis- 
pered in  a  low,  sweet  tone : 

"  Malmiztic,  rise  !" 

*'Art  thou  Tecalco?'*  said  the  Toltec,  "or  only  some  delightful 
vision  of  the  brain  ?"  1^1^ 

**No  vision,  but  thy  friend  and  pupil,"  answerS^Tecalco, 
"  and  I  am  come  to  rescue  thee,  even  at  the  hazard  of  my  life ; 
be  silent  and  follow ;  question  me  not,  until  we  have  escaped ; 
detection  were  instant  death  to  us,  and  in  silence  and  dispatch  wc 
can  alone  find  safety." 

"Then,"  replied  the  Toltec,  "return  to  a  spot  of  safety,  for 
here  you  niust  behold  me  chained  and  powerless." 

"  What !"  cried  Tecalco,  despairingly,  "were  they  not  content 
to  immure  thee  in  this  charnel  house,  but  they  must  also  load  thy 
limbs  with  chains  !  But  say,  Malmiztic,  has  thy  treasure  house 
of  thy  knowledge  no  scheme  or  key  to  give  thee  liberty  ?  Canst 
thou  not  devise  some  plan  for  thy  escape?  Or,  if  thou  hast 
spirits  at  thy  beck,  command  them  now  to  come  to  thee  !" 

"Alas!  Tecalco,"  said  the  Toltec,  "  spirits  wait  but  upon  the 
mind,  they  attend  not  to  the  wants  of  the  body." 

"  But,  Malmiztic,"  replied  the  Tecalco,  imploringly,  "  bethink 
you,  is  there  no  charm  or  spell  in  thy  philosophy  which  can  set 
thee  free  ?" 

"Fond  girl,"  said  the  Toltec,  sadly,  "  my  philosophy  knows  no 


I 

I 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CK08S.  71 

spells ;  it  has  no  amulet  or  talisman  whereby  a  miracle  can  be 
wrought ;  the  great  ring  of  nature  is  the  pale  of  its  power,  it 
cannot  abrogate  those  laws  which  were  fixed  when  the  first  bright 
star  was  set  in  the  crown  of  night." 

**  But  hast  thou,"  returned  Tecalco,  "  nothing  in  thy  vast  labo- 
ratory of  science  which  thou  canst  call  to  thy  aid  ?" 

Malmiztic  started  back  suddenly,  and  pressing  his  hand  upon 
his  brow,  looked  fixedly  upon  the.  damp  floor  of  the  dungeon  ;  a 
change  came  swiftly  over  his  countenance,  with  the  new  thought 
which  had  entered  his  mind. 

**  Child  of  my  love  !"  said  he,  "  I  see  a  ray  of  hope  !  if  thou 
wilt  venture  for  me." 

"  I  will,"  repHed  Tecalco,  "  be  the  hazard  what  it  may  !" 

**  Then  hie  thee,  girl,  to  thy  father's  smelting  house ;  there 
thou  shalt  see,  in  the  chamber  where  I  was  wont  to  sit,  a  cabinet 
of  vases ;  bring  me  the  one  quaintly  carved,  like  a  pine-apple, 
and  of  a  deeper  blue  in  color  than  the  dye  of  the  indigo ;  open 
not  its  seal,  nor  lose  a  drop  of  the  liquor  it  contains ;  it  is  a  rare 
poison,  but  now  it  may  save  life.     Wilt  thou  go  ?" 

"Gladly,"  answered  Tecalco,  "and  if  the  speed  of  love  can 
hasten  thy  delivery,  thou  shalt  not  long  remain  in  bondage." 

So  saying,  the  emperor's  beautiful  daughter  passed  through 
the  wall,  and  turned  the  huge  stone  upon  its  pivot,  closing  the 
aperture  as  before.  At  this  instant  the  door  upon  the  other  side 
of  the  dungeon  grated  harsh  and  heavily,  as  it  swjmg  slowly 
open,  disclosing  the  form  of  the  jailor,  who  entered  with  his 
torch  in  hand,  the  sharp-pointed  staff  of  which  he  stuck  in  the 
damp  floor  of  the  dungeon,  and  said  : 

"  Master  Malmiztic,  I  have  come  to  speak  with  you  in  private,  for 
I  know  you  must  be  lonely,  having  no  one  to  converse  with  but  the 
spirits  which  you  command  by  your  mysterious  power ;  and  I 
am  here  to  ask  your  forgiveness  for  the  part  which  I  have  been 
compelled  to  act  towards  you,  for  you  must  know  that  the  king 
has  strictly  prohibited  all  intercourse  or  communication  with  you ; 
but  feeling  sorrow  for  the  sad  condition  of  so  proud  and  good  a 
gentleman  as  yourself,  I  have  hazarded  to  bring  you,  at  this  dead 
hour  of  the  night,  some  small  provision  from  my  little  stock  to 
save  you  from  hunger,  which  you  must  otherwise  suffer.     Ah  ! 


72  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

Master  Malraiztic,  I  know  you  better  than  you  think  for ;  I  care 
not  for  your  agency  with  evil  spirits,  for  I  have  seen  you  Avan- 
dering  around  disguised  by  night,  visiting  the  habitations  of  the 
poor  and  wretched  peasantry,  and  supplying  them  food  when 
they  were  famishing.  I  have  marked  you,  Master  Malmiztic, 
seeking  the  flag-thatched  house  of  the  fisherman,  where  his  pale 
wife  and  cherished  babes  parched  with  the  burning  fire  of  fever ; 
and  I  have  seen  thee  bend  over  their  beds  of  mats  and  rushes, 
to  bathe  the  sufferers'  brows,  and  minister  to  them  thy  charmed 
medicaments,  and  then  depart,  leaving  them  lost  as  to  who  the 
friendly  being  was  who  had  succored  them  from  distress  and  dis- 
ease. Yes,  Master  Malmiztic,  I  know  these  things,  and  though 
I  disobey  the  orders  of  my  sovereign,  in  furnishing  thee  food,  yet 
to  let  thee  starve  in  this  dank,  dark  cell,  is  to  my  heart  a  greater 
crime  than  disobedience.  For  your  safety,  I  must  answer  with 
my  life  ;  but  as  for  feeding  thee,  the  king  would  not  be  so  cruel 
as  to  have  me  killed  for  that." 

**Nor  shall  he  do  so,"  replied  Malmiztic,  "for  I  will  not  eat 
these  viands,  because  I  need  them  not ;  but  I  do  not  thank  thee 
the  less  for  thy  good  intention.  I  cannot  say  how  I  shall  be  dis- 
posed of;  haply,  at  some  future  time,  the  heart  of  thy  monarch 
may  melt,  and  Malmiztic  may  once  more  be  himself.  Should 
this  be  so,  Aztec,  I  will  not  forget  that  thou  didst  once  design  to 
do  the  Toltec  a  favor." 

Malmiztic  turned  his  massive  head  towards  the  wall,  and  the 
jailor  plucked  up  his  torch  and  departed.  Again  the  heavy  door 
closed  with  a  clash,  and  the  Toltec  was  the  companion  of  dark- 
ness. 

The  sands  had  run  out  of  time's  hour-glass,  which  marked  the 
midnight  watch,  when  the  pivot  stone  turned,  and  Tecalco  stood 
before  Malmiztic,  with  a  torch  in  one  hand,  and  a  deep  blue  vase 
in  the  other.  The  philosopher  took  the  vase,  and  breaking  its 
yellow  seal,  dropped  its  crimson  fluid  upon  the  solid  links  of  cop- 
per. Almost  instantaneously  the  fiery  chemical  eat  the  firm 
metal  in  holes,  and  the  Toltec  broke  the  chain  in  fragments,  like 
a  rotten  bough,  and  walked  forth  free  from  his  dungeon  with  Te- 
calco, who  led  the  way  through  the  wall  where  the  pivot-stone 
was  placed  ;  from  this  they  wandered  through  curious  winding 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  73 

halls,  and  intricate  labyrinths,  now  descending  and  again  ascend- 
ing, passing  through  vast  dungeons,  with  serpentine  passages 
and  stairways,  until  after  an  almost  interminable  succession  of 
chambers  and  halls  were  passed,  they  came  to  a  small  door  which 
opened  upon  the  royal  garden  of  the  emperor's  palace;  here 
sounds  were  heard  of  the  wildest  and  most  unearthly  confusion  • 
and  casting  their  eyes  upward,  they  beheld  the  top  of  the  great 
temple  glowing  with  a  lurid  flame,  and  a  countless  crowd  of 
priests  and  virgins  flying  in  the  wildest  terror  and  disorder  down 
the  immense  stairway. 

"Now,  Tecalco,"  said  Malmiztic,  "since  thou  hast  saved  me, 
save  thyself;  enter  thy  father's  palace,  and  I  will  fly." 

"  Nay,"  answered  Tecalco,  "  whithersoever  thou  shalt  fly, 
there  will  I  follow." 

"  Then,  heaven  protect  us  !"  said  the  Toltec,  throwing  his 
mantle  around  Tecalco,  and  hurrying  to  a  distant  part  of  the  city. 
Thousands,  hastening  through  the  streets,  met  them,  but  no  one 
saw  anything  save  the  vast  temple  flaming  in  the  sky  ;  and  the 
myriads  upon  myriads  of  flakes  of  fire  which  flew  through  the 
air,  with  their  crimson  sparks,  as  countless  as  the  snow-drops  hur- 
ried before  a  December  blast.  They  passed  this  street,  and  that 
canal,  and  hastened  through  the  great  city,  until  they  arrived  at 
a  fisherman's  house  on  the  lake  ;  the  fisherman  and  his  family 
were  standing  by  their  hut,  gazing  with  wonder  and  awe  upon 
the  red  blaze  which  ran  up  into  the  dark  sky. 

'*  Tath,"  said  Malmiztic,  to  the  fisherman,  "launch  my  boat." 

The  latter  glanced  at  the  Toltec,  without  replying,  and  instant- 
ly darted  into  his  hut,  and  in  a  moment  more  came  forth  bearing 
a  beautiful  black  boat  with  a  gold  and  crimson  belt,  and  in  a  few 
moments  more,  with  Tecalco  seated  in  the  stern  and  Malmiztic 
plying  the  paddle,  that  swift  bark  was  flying  over  the  lake,  while 
the  red  light  of  the  distant  fire  flashed  upon  the  waves  in  her  wake  ; 
far  and  fast  flew  that  beautiful  boat,  until  it  had  crossed  the  lake 
towards  the  hill  of  Tezcozinco,  where,  in  a  sheltered  cove,  the 
Toltec  landed  and  made  it  secure  under  the  shade  of  overhang- 
ing willows. 

Tecalco  and  the  Toltec  mounted  the  hill  together;  behind 
them  lay  the  quiet  lake,  whose  surface  blushed  with  a  crimson 
7 


74  MALMIZTIC,    TUK    TOLTEC  J    AND 

gleam  of  the  expiring  flames,  and  before  them  stood  the  moun- 
tain wall  of  rock  ;  up  its  precipitous  and  uneven  sides  they  clam- 
bered on,  the  delicate  daughter  of  the  monarch  scaling  tlie  crags 
like  an  antelope,  and  casting  no  thought  upon  her  danger,  as  the 
loose  stones,  which  formed  their  unsafe  footing,  slipped  from  be- 
neath their  feet,  and  rolled  down  the  steep  declivity.  Upward 
they  mounted,  silently  and  unflinching,  clinging  now  to  the  sharp 
crags,  and  anon  seizing  the  dwarfish  bushes  which  had  rooted 
themselves  in  the  rocky  soil.  Half  way  to  the  top  of  the  hill 
was  the  ledge  of  a  precipice,  which,  upon  th«  left,  was  guarded 
by  a  perpendicular  wall  of  solid  rock,  in  its  natural  state,  and 
upon  the  right  was  a  dizzy  abyss,  so  deep  that  the  tops  of  the 
tallest  trees  showed  their  broad-leafed  crowns  hundreds  of  feet 
below.  Carefully  did  the  Toltec  and  his  fair  charge  creep  along 
the  ledge  of  the  precipice,  leaning  close  to  the  wall  of  rock, 
whose  sharp  corners  often  rendered  the  passage  frightfully  peril- 
ous, and  often  would  a  loosened  stone  leap  over  the  ledge,  and 
rattling  through  the  green  boughs  below,  strike  with  a  terrible 
force  far  down  the  valley. 

Their  hazardous  course  followed  in  a  devious  and  dangerous 
way  the  verge  of  this  wild  precipice  for  considerable  distance ;  at 
length  they  came  to  the  > entrance  of  a  vast  cavern,  whose  high 
arching  mouth  reached  upward  even  with  the  top  of  a  tall  moun- 
tain palm,  which  was  rooted  in  the  rocks.  Overhanging  this 
arching  entrance,  and  creeping  out  of  the  crannies  of  the  rock 
above,  came  down  a  thick  curtain  of  wild  vines,  interlaced  and 
commingled  with  which  luxuriant  honeysuckles,  with  their  my- 
riads of  bright-colored  blossoms,  fringed  the  front  of  the  cave 
with  an  impervious  screen,  and  filled  the  atmosphere  with  a  deli- 
cious and  powerful  perfume. 

Malmiztic  pushed  the  flowery  vines  aside,  and  they  entered  the 
cave.  Beyond,  where  the  moonlight  fell  through  the  checkered 
curtain  of  green,  there  was  nothing  visible  but  one  black  void. 
Malmiztic  reached  his  hand  upwards  and  took  from  a  niche  in 
the  wall  a  small  bell,  and  rang  it  thrice ;  the  tinkling  noise 
sounded  strangely  through  the  hollow  hall,  while  Tecalco  stood 
silent  and  trembling  by  his  side.  But  a  short  time  had  elapsed, 
when,  through  the  darkness  afar,  could  be  seen  a  clear  light,  like 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  76 

a  single  star  looking  through  a  black  cloud  at  midnight ;  it  ad- 
vanced rapidly,  and  as  it  neared  the  spot  where  they  stood,  it 
revealed  the  form  of  a  strange-looking  dwarf,  bearing  a  silver 
lamp  in  his  hand;  when  he  arrived  before  them,  he  held  out  the 
lamp  to  his  master,  and  knelt  at  his  feet.  Tecalco  started  with 
affright  at  the  appearance  of  this  curious  misshapen  creature,  and 
clasping  upon  Malmiztic's  arm  clung  to  him  with  alarm. 

"Fear  not,"  said  the  Toltec,  "this  strange  object  is  a  poor, 
harmless  dwarf,  deprived  by  nature  of  the  power  of  speech, 
whom  I  purchased  from  an  old  woman,  who  was  having  him 
borne  in  a  cage  to  be  sold  to  thy  father,  and  placed  among  his 
collection  of  monsters,  human  and  animal.  I  learned  that  his 
unnatural  mother  had  been  in  the  habit  of  beating  him  without 
cause,  and  had  at  last  abandoned  the  poor  creature  to  the  merci- 
less hands  of  the  hag  who  was  bearing  him  off  captive  in  a  cage. 
The  poor  fellow  made  a  thousand  manifestations  of  gratitude  to 
me  for  having  rescued  him,  and  I  accordingly  made  him  the 
keeper  of  this  cave,  where  he  has  dwelt  in  a  contented  seclusion 
for  years,  save  when  I  have  occasionally  made  myself  a  hermit, 
and  have  dwelt  with  him." 

This  was  spoken  as  Malmiztic  was  walking  onward  in  the  high 
broad  passage  of  the  cave,  while  Tecalco  was  observing  with 
mingled  curiosity  and  sympathy,  the  quaint  dwarf  as  he  followed 
their  footsteps.  His  body  was  a  queer  hump-backed  deformity, 
and  his  stature  was  barely  four  feet  high,  but  his  hands  were  ex- 
quisitely formed,  and  his  face  was  radiant  with  intelligence,  and 
beautiful  in  the  regularity  of  its  features  ;  his  eyes  were  dark 
and  sparkling,  and  his  large  head  was  covered  with  clusters  of  nut- 
brown  hair.  The  dwarf  darted  away  in  the  dark,  and  in  a  few  mo- 
ments overtook  them,  bearing  another  lamp  of  great  size,  formed 
of  copper,  which  he  lighted  from  the  one  borne  by  his  master, 
and  followed  on  behind.  Tecalco  gazed  upon  these  lamps  with 
wonder,  such  vessels  being  unknown  to  the  Aztec  tribes ;  but  she 
gave  no  words  to  her  astonishment,  for  now,  as  they  progressed, 
new  wonders  burst  upon  them  every  instant.  The  vaulted  roof 
above  was  lost  in  an  arch  of  darkness,  through  which  could 
be  seen  glimmering  a  myriad  of  crystalline  sparkles,  and  trans- 
parent formations  of  spar,  which  glittej-ed  through  the  gloom  like 


76  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

brilliant  stars  in  blue,  frosty  skies ;  and  all  the  walls  along  their 
way  were  flashing  with  stalactites,  as  if  the  fires  of  an  unending, 
countless  array  of  diamonds  were  shedding  their  prismatic  colors 
to  the  gleams  of  the  passing  lamps.  Chamber  after  chamber 
was  entered  in  successive  order,  with  deep,  dark  domes,  whose 
black  depths  their  lights  could  not  penetrate.  In  the  centre  of 
one  of  these  vast  chambers,  they  came  upon  a  small,  limpid  lake, 
whose  translucent  waters  flowed  from  countless  silvery  springs, 
which  leaped  from  the  rocky  walls,  and  fell  sparkling  in  the  broad 
basin  of  stone  below.  In  the  depths  of  its  colorless  tide  the 
smallest  object  was  distinctly  visible,  and  the  margin  of  its  un- 
broken mirror  was  strown  with  innumerable  petrifactions.  Gaz- 
ing upon  its  glassy  face,  they  could  behold  the  shadows  of  their 
own  figures,  and  the  reflected  lustre  of  the  lamps,  together  with 
the  forms  of  countless  shining  incrustations,  which  blazed  from 
the  rocks  around,  all  of  which  seemed  magnified  fifty  fold  be- 
yond their  natural  size  ;  and  farther  onward,  they  came  to  a  cham- 
ber of  most  surpassing  beauty,  the  walls  of  which  were  covered 
with  the  most  exquisite  fossil  flowers,  whiter  than  the  drifted 
snow,  and  as  transparent  as  the  most  delicate  sea-shells. 

In  the  centre  of  this  room  stood  three  tables  of  solid  native 
alabaster ;  they  were  of  difi'erent  sizes  and  shapes,  and  were 
called,  by  Malmiztic,  the  goblin,  gnome,  and  fairy  tables  ;  over 
each  hung  a  drapery,  whose  snowy  folds  of  stone  appeared  so 
light  that  a  breeze  would  have  lifted  them.  Several  stools  of 
white  marble  stood  around  each  crystal  table,  and  upon  two  of 
these  Malmiztic  and  Tecalco  seated  themselves,  while  the  dwarf 
hastened  to  bring  and  spread  before  them  the  greatest  variety 
and  profusion  of  delicious  fruits,  and  the  whitest  bread,  together 
with  solid  goblets  of  gold,  filled  with  the  purest  water.  After 
their  wholesome  and  simple  repast  was  finished,  they  waited  for 
the  dwarf,  Avho  had  been  absent  for  a  considerable  time ;  at 
length  he  returned,  and  they  all  went  forward  through  a  long 
suite  of  rooms  of  the  most  singular  shape  and  appearance, 
adorned  upon  the  walls  with  thousands  of  rosettes  of  stone,  and 
fairy-like  fossil  blossoms. 

They  now  entered  a  vast  hall,  and  before  them  stood  a  tall, 
white,  foam-covered  column,  whose  base  was  in  the  centre  of  the 


THE    CAVALIERW    OF    THE    CROSS.  77 

level  floor  of  stone,  nnd  its  head  rose  up  until  it  was  lost  in 
the  darkness  above.  Upon  this  beautiful  shaft  were  carved 
numberless  figures  and  devices.  Passing  from  this  great  hall, 
through  a  narrow  crevice  of  the  rock,  which  afforded  barely 
space  for  their  bodies,  they  suddenly  emerged  upon  a  wide  aisle, 
where  the  most  gorgeous  and  splendid  spectacle  conceivable 
burst  upon  their  sight !  it  was  a  magnificent  cathedral,  with  its 
mirruc  pulpit  and  sanctuary,  high-arching  dome,  studded  with 
stars,  and  hanging  with  millions  of  glittering  prisms,  which  glow- 
ed with  all  the  dyes  of  the  rainbow,  from  the  light  of  twenty 
'superb  silver  lamps,  which  burnt  upon  the  altar,  around  which 
altar  twelve  stupendous  pillars  of  gigantic  girth  seemed  reared 
aloft  to  support  the  huge,  dark  arch  of  the  starry  ceiling. 

The  altar  itself  was  of  a  solid,  black,  massive  marble,  and 
carved  with  tens  of  thousands  of  hieroglyphics,  in  some  strange 
or  unknown  tongue.  Behind  it,  in  the  deep  niche  of  the  wall, 
were  arrayed  a  number  of  mysterious  looking  rnummies,  the  silent 
watchers  of  the  sanctuary,  who,  robed  or  wrapped  in  their  yellow 
shrouds,  with  their  hands  crossed  on  their  breasts  and  their  eyes 
closed,  gave  an  awful  solemnity  to  this  majestic  subterranean  tem- 
ple, whose  entire  walks,  upon  every  side,  were  hung  with  festoons 
of  frosted  flowers,  and  quaint  shaped  figures  of  stone  ;  and,  em- 
bedded in  the  wall  behind  and  above  the  sanctuary,  was  a  smooth, 
polished  block  of  black  marble,  upon  which  was  graven,  in  broad 
letters  of  gold,  in  Toltec  characters  : 
"The  Temple  of  the  Invisible  God — the  Cause  of  Causes."* 

After  having  gazed  at  this  stupendous  miracle  of  nature,  Te- 
calco  was  led  by  Malmiztic  through  a  vaulted  doorway  of  alabas- 
ter, Avhere  a  scene  of  most  terrific  grandeur  presented  itself.  It 
was  a  vast  frightful  gulf  of  liquid  fire,  where,  like  a  boihng 
caldron,  a  subterranean  volcano  heaved  and  bubbled  in  a  bed 
of  whitened  and  sulphur  covered  rocks  ;  and  far  down  in  the 
yawning  crater  could  be  heard  the  rumbhng  of  stones,  and  the 
roaring  of  the  lava,  as  it  rose  and  subsided  in  its  fiery  and  seeth- 
ing  bed.     Dark,    rolling  volumes    of  steam    and    smoke    swept 

*  "  Sunt  characteres  a  nostris  valde  dissiiniles.  *  *  *  *  ^gyptias 
fere  formas  semulantur."  "De  Insulis  nuper  inventis,"  etc. — Peter  Mar- 
tyr, p.  11. 


78  THE    CAVALIERS   OF    THE    CROSS. 

through  a  vast  flue  and  disappeared  in  the  distance,  and  Te- 
calco  was  so  stunned  with  the  deafening  roar,  and  oppressed  with 
the  intense  heat,  that  they  returned  through  many  chambers, 
until  they  came  to  one  in  which  Malmiztic  had  formerly  spent  his 
time  in  study. 

It  was  an  elegant  apartment,  furnished  in  the  most  sumptuous 
manner,  with  every  convenience  which  luxury  could  invent;  a 
superb  couch,  tastefully  decorated  with  curtains  of  azure  and 
gold,  occupied  one  side,  and  an  immense  mirror  of  itzli,  beauti- 
fully brilliant,  leaned  against  the  opposite  wall.  Exquisitely 
wrought  mats,  of  aloe  leaves  and  feathers,  carpeted  the  solid 
stone  floor,  and  every  comfort  which  the  realm  could  furnish  had 
been  lavished  upon  this  boudoir  of  the  cave. 

Here,  the  dwarf  and  the  Toltec  parted  from  Tecalco  for  the 
night,  after  the  former  had  performed  some  bewitching  strains  of 
music  upon  a  strange  lute-like  instrument,  with  which  the  empe- 
ror's daughter  was  delighted.  And  long  after  the  fair  girl  had 
lain  down  upon  her  magnificent  couch,  the  wild  notes  of  those 
melodies  lingered  in  her  ear,  until  when  sleep  came,  that  soft 
music  became  a  part  of  her  dream ;  and  before  the  dwarf  de- 
parted, he  had  lighted  a  taper  of  the  most  ravishing  perfume, 
which  shed  its  sweetness  around,  and  the  silver  lamp  threw  its 
soft  radiance,  all  the  night  long,  upon  the  unbroken  slumber  of 
the  beautiful  Aztec  maiden. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


As  Cortes  advanced  into  the  heart  of  the  enemy's  country,  he 
deemed  it  advisable  to  send  an  embassy  of  his  Totonaca  allies  to 
Tlascala,  to  make  an  amicable  arrangement  for  the  passage  of  his 
troops  through  that  territory  ;  these  were  accordingly  disp&tched, 
toi^ether  with  the  beautiful  Indian  mrl,  whom  Cortes  had  obtained 
in  Chempoalla,  whose  name  was  Malinche,  or  as  she  was  other- 
wise termed,  Marina,  who  acted  as  interpreter.  But  this  attempt 
at  negotiation  resulted  in  a  signal  failure,  for  the  senate  of  Tlas- 
cala, after  a  stormy  debate,  determined  to  refuse  the  strangers 
admittance  into,  or  the  freedom  of  passing  through,  their  territo- 
ry;  and  this  policy  was  supported  with  a  fiery  zeal  by  young 
Xicotencatl,  the  prince  of  Tlascala,  a  noble  warrior,  and  an  in- 
trepid member  of  the  senate.  In  this  he  was  opposed  by  their 
elected  king,  who  was  an  old  man,  and  a  number  of  others  ;  but 
notwithstanding,  the  majority  of  their  assembled  body  advocated, 
in  the  strongest  terms,  the  immediate  expulsion  of  the  Spaniards. 
But  Cortes  had  determined  to  go  to  Mexico  by  the  way  of  Tlas- 
cala, although  he  had  been  repeatedly  advised  to  take  a  dif- 
ferent route,  namely,  by  the  city  of  Cholula ;  and  it  was  well 
for  him  that  he  did  not  adopt  this  route,  for  Montezuma  had 
given  orders  to  the  Cholulans  to  levy  an  immense  force,  and  an- 
nihilate the  Spaniards  and  their  auxiliaries,  if  they  attempted  to 
pass  that  city. 

The  next  day,  after  the  return  of  the  embassy,  with  the  refusal 
by  the  senate  of  the  demands  of  Cortes,  an  army  of  a  thousand 
Tlascalans  marched  out  to  meet  him.  The  battle  was  bravely 
fought,  but  notwithstanding  the  courage  of  the  enemy,  the  Chris- 
tians defeated  them  most  signally,  and  in  the  course  of  the  con- 
flict the  shouts  of  the  Tlascalans  could  be  heard  upbraiding  the 
Chempoallese  or  Totouacas,  fca*  coming  under  cover  and  protection 

(79; 


80  MALMIZIIC,    THE    TOLTKC  ;    AND 

of  the  Christians,  when  they  dared  not  have  ventured  thither 
alone. 

In  the  midst  of  the  fight,  a  challenge  passed  between  two  no- 
bles, one  of  the  Chempoallese,  the  other,  a  Tlascalan.  Hostili- 
ties had  a  cessation,  and  the  two  contending  armies  halted  to 
witness  the  duel.  The  combatants  were  splendidly  attired,  and 
armed  according  to  the  custom  of  the  country.  It  was  a  passage 
of  arms  in  the  true  cavalier  style,  and  won  the  admiration  of  the 
knightly  Spanish  observers,  as  well  as  the  Indians  upon  each  side. 
The  conflict  was  sharp  and  severe  ;  now  the  activity  of  one  would 
prevail,  and  again  the  strength  of  his  opponent  would  throw  the 
advantage  upon  the  other  side.  The  fray  grew  fierce  and  bloody, 
until  at  last  the  Totonaca,  by  a  desperate  blow,  felh^d  his  antago- 
nist to  the  earth,  and  cutting  off  his  head  carried  the  bloody  tro- 
phy back  in  triumph  to  his  companions  in  arms,  amid  their  shouts 
and  acclamations  of  applause.  The  Tlascalans,  beholding  their 
champion  defeated,  retreated  in  good  order  to  their  city,  while 
the  Christians  and  allies  encamped  near  the  scene  of  their 
victory. 

On  the  morrow  the  brave  young  Xicotencatl  led  ten  thousand 
of  the  choicest  Tlascalan  w^arriors  once  more  against  the  Chris- 
tian camp.  Never  had  an  army  issued  from  Tlascala  whose  ap- 
pointments were  equal  to  this.  The  day  was  bright  and  glorious, 
and  the  broad  sun  rolled  through  the  blue  heights  of  an  uncloud- 
ed heaven.  Over  the  green,  grassy  plain  carpeted  with  flowers 
of  the  most  enchanting  hues  and  fragrance,  came  the  pride  and 
flower  of  the  Tlascalan  forces,  marching  down  upon  the  Spanish 
camp  with  a  firm  and  unterrified  front.  It  was  a  splendid  pa- 
geant to  behold  this  brilliant  army,  many  of  whom  were  the 
nobles  of  the  republic,  clad  in  the  most  magnificent  mantles  of 
fea.ther  work,  and  with  burnished  armor  of  gold,  silver,  and  cop- 
per sheathing.  It  was  a  sight  to  thrill  the  soul  of  a  knight- 
errant,  to  mark  the  firm-paced  march  of  the  glittering  battalions, 
as  they  moved  onward  with  order  and  regularity,  to  the  stirring 
soimds  of  atabals,  drums,  and  horns.  On  they  came  ;  proudly 
over  the  green  and  sunshiny  plain  fluttered  the  bright  banners  of 
a  hundred  chiefs  ;  and  high  over  all,  flashing  in  the  light  came  the 
great  gold  spread-eagle,  the  standard  of  the  republic  of  Tlascala. 


THE    CAVALIEKS    OF    THE    CROSS.  81 

As  the  mighty  body  moved  down,  with  their  burnished  arms 
blazing  in  the  sun,  and  gorgeous  insignia  waving  in  the  wind, 
Cortes  drew  up  tlie  Christian  forces  and  the  alHes  in  battle  array, 
and  led  the  van  in  person.  This  course  was  displeasing  to  the 
Totonaca  chieftain,  who  felt  that  he  should  have  this  opportunity 
of  revenging  the  ancient  grudges  arising  from  feuds  between  the 
two  nations  ;  but  this  was  soon  forgotten  in  the  fury  of  the  con- 
test which  ensued. 

Xicotencatl,  having  his  forces  in  readiness,  now  struck  the  loud 
drums  for  the  charge,  and  the  hoarse  wind  instruments  brayed 
forth  a  stormy  peal,  as,  with  a  rush  of  flying  banners,  fluttering 
pennons,  and  the  clash  of  opposing  arms,  the  two  armies  met  in 
conflict  with  a  terrific  shock. 

Maquahuitls  and  blades  of  itzli  glistened  in  the  light,  and  a 
cloud  of  arrows,  darts,  and  other  missiles,  flying  through  the  air, 
darkened  the  face  of  the  sun  with  their  shadows,  and  descending 
pierced  the  defenceless  heads  of  the  Totonacas,  while  they  glanced 
harmlessly  off"  from  the  bright  steel  bonnets  of  the  Christian  cava- 
liers. 

Wild  shouts  arose  from  the  Tlascalan  lines  as  they  repeated, 
with  rapidity,  their  fierce  and  sweeping  charges.  Troop  after 
troop  of  their  gaily-dressed  warriors,  with  the  sunbeams  dancing 
on  their  shields,  wheeled  down  upon  the  opposing  ranks  with  a 
tremendous  onslaught,  sweeping  the  Chempoallese  before  them 
like  the  brown  leaves  hurried  by  the  autumn  blast. 

Cortes  now  called  for  his  cavalry,  and  as  the  ranks  opened  to 
allow  them  to  pass,  the  Tlascalan  enemy  beheld  the  horses  with 
consternation ;  these  strange  animals,  which,  with  their  riders, 
they  looked  upon  as  one  Centaur-like  creature,  came  clattering 
down  with  their  sharp-shod  hoofs  over  the  green-sward,  while  the 
long  lances  and  keen  swords  of  the  knights  cut  through  the  ranks 
of  the  confused  and  disordered  enemy,  until  the  dead  and  wound- 
ed lay  in  winrows  along  their  pathway. 

Right  and  left  flew  the  scattered  and  terrified  Tlascalans,  their 
gorgeous  banners  and  splendid  ensigns  hurled  to  the  earth  in 
ribbons  and  fragments  ;  and  now,  the  wild  yells  of  the  Totonacas 
were  heard  as  they  rushed  after  the  flying  foe  with  murderous 
slaughter,  dragging  in  the  dust  the  proud  Tlascalan  nobles,  with 


82  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

their  superb  surcoats,  beautiful  adornments  of  gems,  and  gold 
glittering  collars,  and  embroidery,  whose  exquisite  workmanship 
no  oriental  land  could  equal. 

Fast  fled  the  foe,  and  fast  upon  their  footsteps  came  the  fiery 
Chempoallese,  fierce  and  hungry  for  revenge  and  for  blood. 
The  rout  was  terrible  ;  of  the  ten  thousand  splendidly  equipped 
warriors,  whom  Xicotencatl  had  that  day  led  into  the  field,  with 
their  green  and.  crimson  plumes  floating  in  the  golden  sunshine, 
and  their  burnished  armor  flashing  brilliantly  with  every  evolu- 
tion, there  now  returned  towards  Tlascala  a  decimated  and  dis- 
ordered band,  weary,  wounded,  and  stained  with  blood  and  dust ; 
a  wretched  wreck  of  the  proud  host  which  had  so  lately  sallied 
forth  quick  with  life  and  burning  with  high  hopes  of  victory. 

But  in  the  camp  of  the  Spaniards  that  night,  joy  held  a  crim- 
son revel  over  the  blood-bought  trophies  of  their  triumphant 
action,  and  Father  Olmedo,  with  his  ofiiciating  priests,  oftered 
praise  and  thanks  to  Him  in  heaven,  whose  hand  they  conceived 
they  could  behold  giving  them  these  wonderful  successes. 

Not  loner  after  this  disastrous  defeat,  in  which  the  Tlascalans 
were  so  completely  overthrown,  the  senate  concluded  to  attempt 
to  achieve  by  stratagem  what  they  could  not  accomplish  by  mili- 
tary power ;  consequently  they  sent  a  deputation  of  fifty  spies, 
who  were  to  talk  pacifically  with  the  Christians,  but  in  fact  recon- 
noitre the  camp  of  Cortes,  and  ascertain  the  character  and 
amount  of  his  forces.  They  accordingly  came,  and  were  acting, 
apparently,  with  no  hostile  intent,  but  the  Chempoallese  allies 
chanced  to  discover  their  design,  and  Marina,  the  Indian  girl, 
revealed  to  Cortes,  likewise,  the  plot  of  these  spies,  which  she 
had  detected.  When  the  Spanish  general  heard  these  things,  he 
had  the  fifty  Tlascalans  arrested,  and  being  determined  to  strike 
terror  to  the  hearts  of  his  adversaries,  he  caused  them  to  be 
brought  forth,  and  had  their  hands  cut  off ! 

In  this  horrid  and  mutilated  condition,  he  sent  them  back  to 
Tlascala,  where  their  bleeding  limbs  were  presented  to  their  fel- 
loAv-countrymen.  This,  instead  of  terrifying  them,  only  excited 
the  ire  of  the  Tlascalans,  and  they  determined,  contrary  to  all 
former  custom  of  the  country,  to  make  an  attack  by  night, 
and  in  a  short  time  they  were   all  prepared,   and   a  favorable 


THE    CAVALIKKS    UK    THifi    CROSS.  83 

opportunity  presenting  itself,  they  sallied  forth  in  the  direction 
of  the  Christian  camp,  which  was  situated  upon  the  slope  of  a 
large  hill.  The  Tlascalans  approached,  under  the  cover  of  a 
cloudy  night,  with  stealth  and  caution  ;  every  means  was  used 
to  avoid  detection,  and  a  deadly  retribution  for  former  injuries 
and  defeats  was  now  intended. 

Quietly  as  the  panther  creeps  upon  its  prey,  did  the  crouching 
Tlascalans  advance  close  to  the  Christian  camp ;  but  the  careful 
Cortes  was  not  to  be  taken  by  surprise,  nor  found  in  an  unguard- 
ed condition  ;  his  well-drilled  soldiers  slept  not  on  their  posts, 
but  watched  their  quarters  with  a  vigilant  eye. 

At  length,  upon  a  signal  being  given,  the  Tlascalans  rushed 
upon  the  camp ;  in  a  moment  the  soldiers,  who  slept  upon  their 
arms;  were  up  and  equipped,  prepared  in  an  instant  to  repel  their 
antagonists.  The  conflict  was  terrible.  In  the  midst  of  the 
darkness  it  was  almost  impossible  to  distinguish  the  Totonacas 
from  the  Tlascalans  ;  but  the  Spaniards  fought  with  the  fury  of 
tigers,  and  dealt  their  deadly  blows  with  such  effect  that  they 
repulsed  the  enemy  sufficiently  for  Cortes  to  comprehend  more 
clearly  their  number  and  position,  and  to  consolidate  his  forces, 
as  well  as  to  array  the  allies  in  something  like  order.  But  this 
was  no  slight  task  amid  the  stunning  confusion  of  arms,  and  the 
horrible  clang  of  the  Tlascalan  horns  and  drums,  and  the 
wild  shouts  of  the  fighting  foemen,  mingled  with  the  death- 
shrieks  and  screams  of  the  wounded  and  dying.  And  now,  the 
Tlascalans  would  urge  their  men  on  by  the  remembrance  of  their 
fellow-countrymen,  whose  arms  had  been  so  bloodily  amputated 
by  the  invading  foe. 

Loud  and  long  raged  the  fierce  strife  in  darkness  and  confu- 
sion ;  at  length  the  great  white  moon,  in  her  full-orbed  glory, 
rolled  out  in  majestic  splendor  and  brilliancy,  from  behind  a 
black  mountain  of  clouds,  fringing  its  ebon  masses  with  a  glori- 
ous wreath  and  edging  of  gold,  and  scattering  in  a  broad  flood 
upon  the  field  a  silver  shower  of  light.  With  this  sudden  change 
in  the  skies,  the  tide  of  battle  turned,  for  the  Christians  and  their 
companions  were  soon  collected  by  Cortes  in  one  compact  body, 
which,  charging  upon  the  Tlascalans,  swept  them  down  the  hill 
and  through  the  valley,  as  if  by  an  irresistible  torrent.     They 


34  MALMIZTIC,    TUB    TOLTKC  ;    AND 

pursued  them  over  hill  and  dale  for  miles,  strewing  with  their 
corses  the  tields  as  they  fled,  and  making  their  track  bloody  with 
the  gore  of  the  wounded,  who  desperately  struggled  to  escape 
from  the  unfortunate  field  of  fight. 

Cortes  and  the  Christians  returned  at  length  to  their  camp, 
but  the  Totonacas  followed  the  enemy  until  they  were  wearied 
out  with  butchery,  plunder,  and  pillage  ;  at  last,  having  deeply 
sated  their  long-cherished  revenge,  they  returned  and  made  a 
horrible  feast  of  the  bodies  of  those  whom  they  had  slaughtered, 
notwithstanding  the  efforts  of  Cortes  to  prevent  it ;  but  his  power 
was  too  limited  to  offer  any  forcible  means  to  compel  them  to  de- 
sist, well  knowing  that  at  this  time  their  services  were  invaluable, 
and,  in  fact,  the  only  safeguard  for  himself  and  companions  against 
the  countless  thousands  whose  territory  he  had  invaded. 

The  golden  eagle  of  Tlascala  had  been  beaten  to  the  earth  by 
the  storm  of  the  Christian  power,  but  it  now  rose  again,  like  a 
new-fiedged  phoenix,  from  its  funeral  pyre,  and  mounted  aloft 
more  daring  and  terrible  than  ever. 

The  senate  and  the  people  now  saw  that  their  situation  was  a 
desperate  one,  and  therefore  they  nerved  themselves  for  a  contest 
which  should  seal  their  fate  or  sweep  the  Christians  from  their 
soil  at  one  overwhelming  blow. 

They  accordingly  came  forth,  thousands  upon  thousands ;  in 
the  language  of  that  mighty  master  of  history,  who  opens  the 
sable  curtains  of  tradition,  and  illumines  the  black  void  with 
beautiful  beings  and  vivid  figures  of  light — in  the  words  of  the 
great  Prescott — "  they  came  forth,  a  mighty  host,  dark  with  the 
shadows  of  banners."  Thousands  of  common  soldiers,  with  fan- 
tastically painted  bodies,  and  no  dress  save  a  girdle  around  their 
loins,  and  others  with  spotted  skins,  and  like  garments — the 
wealthy  with  cuirasses  of  gold  and  silver,  and  their  legs  defended 
by  leathern  boots,  or  their  feet  by  sandals.  The  whole  body 
being  armed  with  various  implements  of  defence,  such  as  copper- 
headed  lances,  bows,  arrows,  darts,  slings,  pikes,  swords  of  obsi- 
dian, clubs,  spears,  maquahuitls,  and  barbed  javelins,  with  a 
cord  attached  to  them  to  pull  back  and  lacerate  the  flesh  after 
they  had  pierced  the  body  of  the  victim  at  which  they  had  been 
hurled  ;  and  shields  of  wood  or  hides,  likewise  nets,  to  entangle 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  B6 

the  arms  of  the  enemy,  together  with  drums,  horns,  shells,  and 
other  martial  music. 

Such  were  the  equipage  and  adornment  of  the  mighty  mass 
which  now  moved  forth  from  Tlascala,  with  all  the  appointments 
of  war,  and  a  determination  to  leave  not  a  single  Christian  to  tell 
the  tale  of  his  companions. 

And  now  the  Christian  cavaliers  had  need  of  all  their  courage 
and  chivalry,  for  they  beheld  the  enemy  for  miles,  coming  count- 
less as  the  sand  grains  in  the  simoon.  It  was  a  fearful  sight  to 
the  little  band  and  their  rude  allies,  to  mark  the  multitudinous 
swarms  as  their  dark  lines  became  more  and  more  distinct,  while 
the  distance  between  them  diminished  momentarily.  They 
seemed  multiplying  as  they  moved  forward  with  a  fearful  calm, 
like  the  gathering  clouds  which  collect  in  silence  and  hasten  to- 
gether in  one  great  body,  before  the  monster  angel  of  the  tempest 
gives  his  thunder-shout  and  sweeps  away  on  his  black  wings,  fol- 
lowed by  the  legion  of  hurricane  fiends,  who  hiss  and  howl  in 
their  roaring  flight  after  their  rushing  leader. 

It  was  a  fearful  sight,  and  the  hearts  of  the  Christians  beat  as 
with  a  single  pulse,  at  the  impending  destruction  which  threat- 
ened them  ;  and  the  mighty  mind  of  Hernando  Cortes  felt  terrible 
misgivings  at  the  appearance  of  the  dread  power  which  now  ap- 
proached. A  shadow  of  doubt  clouded  the  sunshine  of  his  hope, 
but  no  eye  that  looked  upon  that  leader  could  see  this  shadow, 
for  upon  his  countenance  sat  a  deathless  determination,  and  his 
firm  lips  were  sealed  with  fixedness  of  purpose,  as  he  glanced 
over  the  flashing  Hnes  of  the  coming  host.  There  was  no  flinch- 
ing or  wavering  in  his  collected  aspect,  or  the  bold  bearing  of  his 
manly  figure  ;  he  looked  quietly  and  calmly  upon  the  advancing 
legions,  and  turned  to  his  men  and  confederates,  and  with  an 
eloquence  like  electricity  struck  fire  to  their  souls,  and  fortified 
the  faltering  by  the  cheering  assurance  that  the  prayers  of  the  holy 
fathers  had  been  heard,  and  that  the  Virgin  would  guard  her 
cherished  flock,  and  hover  over  the  field  of  fight,  while  unseen 
angels  would  battle  under  the  banner  of  the  Cross. 

Down  came  the  cloud  of  foes  upon  the  Christians  and  their 
companions,  countless  as  a  swarm  of  locusts,  and  flying  thick  in 
the  faces  of  the   Christians  and   Chempoallese  as  the  whirling 


8Q  Mi:LMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

flakes  of  snow  in  a  northern  storm.  Down  to  the  earth  went  the 
Totonacas,  as  the  rushing  charge  of  Tlascala  swept  over  them, 
in  one  wild  irresistible  wave ;  and  on  dashed  their  great  warrior, 
Titcala,  with  his  banner  of  a  snow-white  heron,  upon  a  rock, 
conspicuous  among  the  hundred  thousand  warriors.  And  all 
over  the  field  standards  were  seen  flying  hither  and  thither,  flut- 
tering and  waving  as  they  were  borne  swiftly  on  where  the 
tumult  and  strife  were  most  terrific.  Now  a  green  bird,  wrought 
on  a  tree  of  gold,  the  arms  of  one  of  the  proudest  nobles  of  Tlas- 
cala, was  seen,  and  before  his  dreadful  banner  the  Totonacas 
were  whirled  away,  or  dashed  instantly  in  the  dust ;  and  even 
the  Christian  flank  fell  back  as  the  green  bird  forced  its  way  with 
a  deadly  impetuosity  through  rank  after  rank,  and  division  after 
division ;  and  following  in  the  rear  came  a  hundred  other  stan- 
dards of  the  Tlascalans,  as  swift  as  flocks  of  pigeons,  and  as 
countless  in  their  unnumbered  multitude.  Upon  every  side  the 
Christians  and  their  comrades  were  hotly  pressed,  and  no  sooner 
was  a  gap  opened  in  their  files,  than  like  a  rushing  inundation  of 
mighty  waters,  a  torrent  of  Tlascalans  poured  upon  them.  The 
aUies  were  thrown  into  consternation  and  dismay,  and  pressed 
down  by  their  innumerable  opponents,  the  confusion  which  fol- 
lowed was  frightful ;  panic  seized  upon  them,  which  the  Tlasca- 
lans observing,  followed  up  their  advantage  with  most  disastrous 
slaughter. 

In  every  part  of  the  field,  the  allies  gave  back  from  the  fierce 
assaults  of  the  Tlascalans ;  this  Cortes  saw,  and  felt  that  unless 
a  master  stroke  was  now  made,  that  he  and  his  hopes  were  lost 
forever.  He  now  raised  in  his  stirrups,  and  dashed  forward  to 
clear  a  way  for  his  artillery,  when  full  before  him  came  the  ter- 
rific Tlascalan  chief,  with  the  banner  of  the  green  bird,  carrying 
death  with  it  in  its  wild  career.  Cortes  checked  not  his  reins  to 
curb  his  charger,  but  drove  his  spurs  into  the  sides  of  his  steed, 
and  dashed  at  the  Tlascalan,  with  his  lance  in  the  rest  and  his 
visor  down,  and  drove  his  dreadful  spear  through  the  body  of 
the  terrible  chieftain ! 

Cortes  now  opened  the  way  for  the  artillery  and  cavalry,  the 
former  of  which  began  its  dreadful  work  of  execution.  As  the 
great  guns  belched  forth  their  bursts  of  flame  and  thunder,  start- 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CR«SS.  87 

ling  a  region  wliose  echoes  had  never  answered  the  wild  roar  of 
cannon  previous  to  that  time,  appalling  was  the  havoc  which 
succeeded  every  sulphurous  flash ;  rank  reeled  upon  rank,  and 
file  fell  upon  file  as  these  frightful  engines  mowed  the  Tlascalans 
to  the  earth  like  the  scythe  of  death  ;  through  the  dense  crowded 
mass  flew  the  destructive  balls,  strewing  the  field  with  rows  of 
mangled  corses,  and  hundreds  of  wounded  wretches  who  shrieked 
from  agony,  until  their  screams  pierced  the  ears  of  their  com- 
panions with  horror,  and  they  fled  in  terror  and  confusion  from 
the  scene  of  such  ghastly  carnage. 

Now  could  the  credulous  and  faithful  followers  of  the  cross 
fancy  that  they  could  see  St.  James,  their  patron  saint,  scouring 
the  plain  on  his  milk-white  steed,  and  scourging  the  enemy,  like 
the  spectre  of  death  upon  his  pale  horse.  Bloody  and  shocking 
was  the  massacre  which  ensued. 

An  embassy,  which  Montezuma  had  sent  to  Cortes,  now  ar- 
rived, and  they  beheld,  for  the  first  time,  the  tremendous  (and, 
as  they  were  convinced,  superhuman)  power  of  the  Christian 
arms.  Disorder  seized  the  entire  mass  of  the  Tlascalans,  and 
one  universal  rout  ensued ;  utter  despair  seized  upon  the  poor 
creatures,  and  in  their  helplessness  they  fell  a  prey  to  the  rapa- 
cious ferocity  of  the  allies. 

Thus  ended  the  last  battle  between  Cortes  and  the  Tlascalans, 
in  which  the  latter  were  utterly  defeated  and  overthrown,  with 
the  loss  of  a  vast  number  of  their  choicest  soldiery  ;  and  soon 
after  this  brilliant  victory,  Cortes  and  his  companions,  together 
with  their  Totonaca  allies,  made  a  most  splendid  entry  into  the 
city  of  Tlascala.  Triumphal  arches  were  erected  and  festooned 
with  garlands  of  the  loveliest  flowers  which  could  be  found  in  a 
land  where  blossoms  blushed  from  the  beginning  to  the  closing 
of  the  year.  Wreaths  of  roses  and  fragrant  honeysuckles  were 
woven  as  chaplets  for  the  conquerors,  and  fairy-like  flowers  were 
strewn  in  their  pathway. 

It  was  a  rare  sight  for  those  who  had  been  so  long  enduring 
the  hardships  of  a  mountain  march,  and  the  rigors  of  an  open 
camp  life,  to  enter  a  splendid  city,  where  all  the  comforts  of  life 
awaited  them;  and  in  remembrance  of  the  kind  gifts  which 
heaven  had  thus  bestowed  upon  them  and  their  ultimate  success. 


P3  THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS. 

the  holy  Father  Olmedo  celebrated  the  service  of  high  mass,  in 
all  the  majestic  pomp  and  magnificence  ^Yith  which  it  could  be 
clothed — a  ceremony  in  which  many  Chempoallese  converts  per- 
formed conspicuous  parts.  The  mysteries  of  baptism  and  the 
holy  sacrament  were  administered,  and  all  the  solemn  rites  of 
church,  which  were  looked  upon  by  the  ignorant  natives  as  a 
most  mysterious  ritual  —  a  conclusion,  in  fact,  which  need  not 
astonish  the  reader  in  the  nineteenth  century. 

The  Mexican  embassy,  having  seen  the  power  of  the  new 
comers,  and  presented  the  offerings  which  Montezuma  had  dis- 
patched to  Cortes,  returned  to  their  island  city,  with  news  of  this 
new  people,  which  made  the  Aztec  monarch  tremble  on  his 
golden  throne. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


It  was  night  in  the  capital — the  multitude  were  busy  with  the 
news  of  the  strangers  who  had  conquered  Tlascala,  and  many 
were  the  conjectures  which  filled  the  minds  of  the  uneasy  citi- 
zens of  the  great  metropolis  as  to  what  course  the  monarch  would 
take  in  the  matter.  A  few  thought  he  would  admit  them  peace- 
ably ;  others  imagined  that  he  had  some  deep  laid  scheme  to  in- 
veigle and  entrap  them,  while  the  great  mass  confidently  believed 
that  the  emperor  was  only  luring  the  foe  into  his  lair,  and  that 
suddenly  he  would  call  forth  his  infinite  forces  and  sweep  them 
from  the  earth's  face  at  one  tremendous  blow. 

While  the  citizens  were  thus  busy  talking  in  groups  in  the 
streets  and  public  places,  the  emperor  held  his  council  in  the  pa- 
lace ;  the  news  was  most  exciting  which  was  there  communicated 
by  Cacama,  the  brave  young  king  of  Tezcuco,  namely  that  his 
brother  Ixtliloxchitl  had  raised  a  sedition  in  one  of  the  neigh- 
boring provinces,  and  gathering  a  considerable  body  of  rebels 
and  restless  spirits,  had  gone  over  and  joined  the  Christian,  Cor- 
tes, and  entered  upon  friendly  terms  with  their  ancient  enemy, 
the  Tlascalans. 

This  piece  of  news  was  not  needed  to  make  the  monarch,  Moun, 
tezuma,  more  nervous  and  agitated  than  he  was,  for,  of  late,  he 
had  almost  been  driven  to  desperation  by  an  endless  variety  of 
annoying  circumstances,  among  which  was  the  miraculous  escape 
of  Malmiztic,  and  the  sudden  disappearance  of  his  daughter, 
Tecalco. 

In  the  morning  after  the  escape,  Montezuma  had  the  jailor 

brought  forth,   and  was    about   to    deliver   him   to   the   priests 

to   be   offered   up   as   a   sacrifice,  when  Guatemozin   interfered 

with  his  uncle  on  behalf   of   the   jailor,  and   prayed  that  the 

8  (89) 


90  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

culprit  might  be  allowed  a  short  time  to  search  for  the  fugitive 
Toltec. 

''Why,  Guatemoziii,"  said  Montezuma,  ''would  you  have  this 
knave,  who  has  connived  at  the  escape  of  this  blaspheming  infi- 
del, escape  likewise  ?" 

"Nay,  uncle,"  answered  Guatemozin,  "I  can  but  think  that 
there  is  some  higher  power  at  work  than  this  simple-minded 
jailor,  for  he  is  an  honest  man,  and  has  been  faithful  to  the  trusts 
of  his  office  for  years.  Have  you  heard  aught  of  the  manner 
in  which  the  prisoner  escaped  ?" 

"Nay,  not  a  word,"  replied  Montezuma,  "save  that  the  dar- 
ino-  traitor,  who  outraged  the  gods  of  my  fathers,  and  balked  and 
bearded  me  in  mine  own  capital,  is  gone.  By  the  wrath  of  Huit- 
zilopotchtli !  I  would  not  have  let  him  out  of  my  hands  for  all  the 
Tlascalans  themselves.  Heard  you  not  how,  with  horrid  sacri- 
lege^ he  defied  our  gods  and  assailed  me  as  if  I  were  the  veriest 
slave  ?  yea,  spoke  as  proudly  to  me  as  if  I  were  an  earthworm, 
creeping  at  his  feet." 

" 'Tis  true,  uncle,"  returned  Guatemozin,  "he  has  a  pride 
without  a  parallel,  but  I  think  he  has  a  more  fearful  power  than 
pride,  and  even  I  begin  to  side  with  those  who  think  that  this  is 
some  mysterious  power,  whose  strength  may  not  be  checked  with 
impunity  ;  for,  know  you,  sire,  that  the  solid  links  which  held 
him  in  the  night,  I  saw  myself,  in  the  morning,  as  rotten  as  a 
reed  decaying  in  a  fen — it  crumbled  at  the  touch." 

"Ah  !  say  you  so  ?"  questioned  Montezuma,  musingly,  "  I  had 
thought  that  dread  of  him  was  confined  to  the  vulgar  herd,  but 
lately  we  have  seen  things  which  must  stagger  even  our  belief. 
Guatemozin,  there  is  something  in  him  that  we  know  not  of." 

"Ay,  uncle,"  answered  the  other,  "let  me  beseech  you,  there- 
fore, to  grant  this  poor  jailor  a  few  days'  life,  to  learn  the  where- 
abouts of  this  strange  and  mystical  man.  I  will  pledge  myself 
to  answer  his  return  when  the  period  shall  expire." 

"  Not  so,"  said  the  emperor,  "for  I  could  not  make  thee  an- 
swerable for  his  knavery  or  neglect,  but  I  will  permit  him  to 
make  the  search,  and  if  he  return  not  at  the  end  of  the  tenth 
day,  then  shall  his  wife  and  children  pay  the  forfeiture  and  an- 
swer with  iheir  lives." 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  91 

"A  thousand  thanks,  uncle!"  replied  Guatemozhi,  "for  this 
clemency — farewell." 

So  saying,  he  departed  for  the  gardens  of  the  palace,  where 
he  had  promised  to  meet  his  cousin,  the  beautiful  Tecuiclipo. 
After  having  communicated  to  the  jailor  the  respite  allowed  him, 
in  which  he  must  find  the  Toltec,  the  poor  jailor  started  upon 
his  almost  hopeless  search,  and  Guatemozin  to  the  lovely  grove 
within  which  he  was  to  find  the  being  upon  whom  all  the  tender 
ties  of  his  nature  were  concentrated. 

He  came  and  found  her ;  she  was  sitting  under  the  shadow  of 
a  broad-leaved  magnolia,  whose  white  blossoms  distilled  a  per- 
petual incense  upon  the  air.  There  was  a  grief  which  weighed 
her  down  as  she  bent  her  head  upon  her  bosom,  like  a  dew-laden 
lily  ;  and  Guatemozin,  coming  gently  up,  stole  upon  her  unseen 
in  her  reverie,  and  covered  her  eyes  with  his  hands  as  he  stood 
at  her  back. 

**Ah !  I  know  you,  bold  one  "  said  the  maid,  "  for  I  can  see 
thee  as  well  with  the  inner  eyes  as  when  I  gaze  upon  thy  face ; 
but  I  am  not  in  playful  mood  to  day ;  so,  sit  thee  down  while  I 
shall  tell  thee  something  which  thou  shalt  not  like  to  hear.  But 
first  tell  me,"  said  she,  placing  one  hand  upon  his  shoulder,  as 
he  sat  by  her  side,  "  hast  thou  ever  loved  me?" 

*'  What  a  question  !"  returned  he,  looking  archly  and  reproach- 
fully, as  he  turned  his  large,  dark  eyes  upon  hers  ;  **  have  I  told 
thee  this  so  often  that  thou  wouldst  amuse  thyself  by  hearing  me 
repeat  the  same  strain  over  for  the  hundredth  time  ?" 

**Not  so,"  replied  the  beautiful  maiden,  and  her  deep  eyes 
grew  softer  in  their  lustrous  loveliness  ;  **  not  so,  I  would  never 
hear  it  again." 

"How,  now  !"  said  Guatemozin,  half  surprised,  "what  is  my 
offence?" 

"  None,"  answered  Tecuiclipo,  "  I  only  ask  that  you  will  cease 
to  remember  me." 

"Nay,  now,  I  see  that  you  are  wounded,"  said  Guatemozin, 
"  at  some  accidental  word  of  mine,  some  act  without  intent ;  nay, 
then,  be  frank,  and  speak  it  out,  and  I  will  ask  forgiveness,  for, 
by  the  ashes  of  mine  ancestry  !  I  know  not  wherein  I  have 
oflFended." 


92  MALMIZTIC,    THK    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

**'Tis  no  otfence,"  added  the  maiden,  "but  an  error  in  loving 
me." 

''  Why,  how  is  this  ?"  said  Guatemozin,  more  seriously,  **have 
I  been  deceived ;  have  all  your  fond  words  been  false,  and  can  you 
have  thus  long  dealt  doubly  by.  me  ?  Tecuiclipo  !  it  cannot  be  ! 
Why,  year  after  year  have  I  lived  in  thy  smile ;  I  have  wandered 
with  thee  in  the  flowery  hours  of  childhood,  and  plucked  roses 
from  the  same  branch  ;  I  have  sat  on  the  green,  moss-covered 
banks,  where  wild  flowei's  flowed  at  our  feet,  and  told  thee  the 
strange  legends  of  Popocatepetl  and  Iztaccihuatl,  of  the  holy 
hermit  who  dwelt  so  far  up  on  the  mountain  pinnacle  that  all 
earthly  sounds  were  lost,  and  silence  was  so  solemn  and  un- 
broken that  the  dead  stillness  of  that  wondrous  height  was  pain- 
ful in  the  extreme  ;  I  have  read  to  thee  the  wild  romances  of  the 
ancient  Olmecs,  until  thy  bright  eyes  have  overflowed  at  the 
touching  stories  of  ancient  love ;  I  have  sung  to  thee  by  the 
moon's  white  light,  when  the  tears  of  the  stars  were  falling  upon 
the  grass  and  into  the  open  cups  of  the  night  flowers ;  and  I  have 
wandered  with  thee  by  wood  and  water,  where  the  forest  over- 
shadows the  brook,  the  deep  blue  brook  whose  mirror-like  face 
gave  back  our  images  doubled  as  we  stood  upon  its  bank,  arm  en- 
twined with  arm,  and  gazed  at  our  shadows,  those  watery  mocke- 
ries which  followed  our  every  movement.  By  the  blue  eyes  of 
Tlaloc,  Tecuiclipo,  those  memories  come  back  to  me  so  bright 
and  beautiful,  that  when  I  hear  thee  say  that  loving  thee  is  an 
error,  it  robs  my  life  of  its  most  exquisite  visions — those  golden 
hours  of  my  boyhood,  when  hope  was  the  highest  in  my  heart, 
when  life  was  fresh,  and  new,  and  beautiful ;  when  day  came 
not  too  soon,  and  gentle  dreams  were  the  visitants  of  my  happy 
slumbers.  Then  I  was  not  weary  when  returning  from  the  toil- 
some chase,  for  I  could  look  into  those  divine  and  love-lighted 
eyes,  and  see  a  sunny  smile,  which  seemed  to  wear  a  welcome 
for  me  in  every  glance ;  then  I  was  not  sorrowful,  if  I  could 
hear  thy  happy  voice  ring  with  its  merry  laughter,  or  warble 
forth  its  own  wild  and  witching  melodies." 

"No  more,  no  more,  Guatemozin,"  said  the  beautiful  maid, 
and  her  liquid  eyes  were  suff'used  in  tears,  "  I  would  not  have 
the  past  revived,  to  contrast  its  hours  of  exquisite  enjoyment 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  93 

with  the  weary  years  which  are  stored  for  me  in  the  future,  years 
of  sorrow,  when  the  heart  will  pine  in  its  own  solitude,  or  live 
only  upon  recollection  of  pleasures  past  forever." 

**  What  mean  you,  Tecuiclipo,"  said  Guatemozin,  *'  these  words 
mean  nothing,  or  else  they  shadow  forth  a  great  revulsion  in  thy 
feelings." 

**  Yes,  Guatemozin,"  answered  she,  **  a  change  is  coming  over 
my  fate  not  my  feelings  ;  this  hand,  which  has  so  often  trem- 
bled with  delight  in  yours  ;  these  eyes,  which  have  so  oft  gazed 
with  rapture  upon  your  own;  this  heart,  whose  extatic  pulses 
have  so  often  throbbed  in  unison  with  the  beating  of  your  own — 
all,  all  must  be  lost!  yea,  even  the  very  dreams  of  my  mind 
must  cease  to  picture  that  object  which  once  was  life,  light,  hope, 
and  heaven  to  them  !" 

"Tecuiclipo!"  said  Guatemozin,  earnestly,  "is  this  madness, 
or  are  all  our  former  vows  forgotten?  Say,  in  a  word,  what 
means  this  ?  Keep  me  not  in  suspense,  for  my  mind  hangs  in 
torture  while  I  am  thus  left  in  vague  uncertainty ;  give  not  sha- 
dows, but  facts ;  delude  me  not  with  a  fiction,  a  phantasm,  but 
if  I  must  meet  some  dread  spectre,  let  me  meet  it  now,  before  my 
nerves  are  shaken  by  this  distressing  doubt.  My  soul's  own  idol, 
speak,  I  conjure  you  !  for  I  see  your  eyes  full  of  tears  which 
have  welled  up  from  your  heart,  and  I  know  this  painful  matter 
must  be  spoken." 

"Oh!  Guatemozin,"  said  the  maid,  "howl  have  loved  you 
would  be  so  wild  a  tale  the  world  would  laugh  to  hear  it ;  the 
very  rhapsodist  would  wonder  if  such  a  thing  could  exist  in  na- 
ture ;  it  were  a  marvel  too  fabulous  for  fiction,  so  far  beyond 
belief,  that  sober  thought  Avould  set  it  down  as  an  invention  and 
coinage  of  the  brain,  for  whose  reality  there  was  no  prototype. 
For  you,  even  as  a  boy,  began  my  dream  of  love,  and  as  you 
grew,  my  girlhood's  passion  took  a  deeper  hue,  and  every  honor 
which  you  added  to  your  growing  fame,  in  war  or  in  peace,  was 
a  new  source  of  pride  to  the  heart  which  held  your  welfare  and 
interest  more  precious  than  its  own.  Ah  !  Guatemozin,  I  have 
listened  to  the  winning  music  of  your  words  until  my  heart  was 
haunted  by  its  echo ;  and  then  how  I  have  dwelt  upon  thy 
treasury  of  thought,  from  which,  as  from  an  inexhaustible  mine, 


94  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

new  gems  came  glittering  in  continuous  succession,  rai-e,  delight- 
ful, more  than  ever  precious  and  bright,  as  time  stole  along,  add- 
ing ever  to  the  priceless  stock  of  thy  native  and  original  genius. 
And  thus  have  years  passed,  until  my  soul  has  grown  a  deep, 
dark  lake,  which  lightens  up  but  in  thy  glance,  and  wears  a  silver 
face  only  when  thou  art  present.  But  now,  Guatemozin,  the 
dream  is  over ;  all  that  I  have  asked  and  hoped  from  fate  has 
been  denied  and  swept  away  at  one  fell  blow.  Hear  me  calmly, 
friend  of  my  sunny  youth,  I,  who  have  loved  thee  so  fondly  for 
years,  I,  I  am  to  be  our  uncle's  bride  !" 

**  Shades  of  our  Aztec  gods  forbid  !"  exclaimed  Guatemozin  ; 
**  what !  I  who  have  worshipped  thee  night  and  day  for  years,  to 
be  rejected  thus,  and  for  thy  father's  brother,  Cuitlahua,  prince 
of  Iztapalapan  !  This  is  a  cruel  blow,  to  yield  thee  to  him  whose 
stem  and  immovable  heart  can  feel  no  more  for  thee  than  for  the 
basest  slave  who  waits  upon  his  wants,  while  I,  oh,  heavens ! 
have  loved  thee  to  idolatry  !  True,  he  is  wise,  but  his  wisdom 
will  not  see  thy  worth  ;  true  it  is,  that  he  is  brave  in  battle,  but 
of  love  for  woman,  and  most  of  all  for  thee,  he  knows  naught. 
Tecuiclipo,  this  blow  hath  cut  my  heart  in  twain ;  I  had  rather 
have  heard  that  thou  wert  given  to  a  barbarous  Otomie,  or  even 
to  my  Tlascalan  enemy  ;  yea,  I  would  have  sooner  heard  that 
thou  wert  a  virgin  of  the  temple,  or  a  common  sacrifice  to  the 
gods,  than  to  have  learned  that  thou  art  the  promised  bride  of 
my  uncle.  If  it  had  been  my  enemy,  I  could  have  borne  it,  for 
then  the  hope  of  one  day  meeting  him  in  the  field,  where  I  might 
win  thee  back,  would  have  made  life  bearable ;  but  this  cuts  off 
all  hope,  and  strikes  me  in  the  most  defenceless  part.  Cuitlahua, 
though  a  stern  man,  hath  been  my  friend,  my  tutor,  my  compa- 
nion, my  uncle  !  yea,  almost  my  father  !  and  now  he  shoots  like 
a  shadow  between  me  and  all  the  sunshine  of  my  future  joys." 

"But,  Guatemozin,"  said  Tecuiclipo,  "the  voice  of  my  father 
hath  spoken  the  fatal  decree,  and  his  is  the  voice  of  fate.'* 

**  It  were  a  most  imholy  determination,"  answered  the  other, 
"for  there  is  no  fitness  in  the  match  ;  he  is  old,  and  thou  art 
young ;  he  is  icy  as  the  northern  face  of  Orizaba,  whilst  thou  art 
as  warm  and  sunny  as  the  flowery  vales  of  Xochimilco  ;  his  stern 
soul  sees  nothing  half  so  winning  as  the  bloody  streams  of  the 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  95 

battle-field,  while  all  thy  delights  are  centered  in  seeing  those 
around  thee  happy  ;  his  heart  is  of  itzli,  stony  and  unimpressible, 
while  thine  trembles  with  sympathy  at  the  sigh  of  sorrow,  and 
thine  eyes  distil  their  amber  tears  at  the  sight  of  scenes  of  woe.'* 

"Whist!  and  away!"  said  the  maiden,  rising,  "I  see  my 
father  approaches  !  We  niust  not  meet  again  ;  farewell,  Guate- 
mozin  !  when  I  am  gone,  forget  me,  blot  me  out  forever  from  the 
book  of  thy  memory,  and  scatter  the  flowers  of  affection  which 
have  pressed  its  leaves  and  been  treasured  therein  for  years. — 
Look  upon  me  as  you  look  upon  the  dead ;  between  us  is  a  bar- 
rier which  no  hand  but  death's  can  remove ;  take  my  hand  for 
the  last  time,  my  hand  alone,  for  my  heart  is  dead  within  me  !'* 

Guatemozin  took  that  hand,  and  pressed  her  beautiful  form  to 
his  manly  bosom,  while  her  large,  tear-filled  eyes  were  upturned 
to  meet  his  own,  as  he  said,  with  the  deepest  tenderness  and 
emotion : 

"  Farewell,  if  we  must  part,  farewell,  sweet  blossom  !  thou, 
who  hast  made  me  more  happy  in  my  past  earthly  existence  than 
I  can  ever  hope  to  be  in  heaven,  adieu  !  And  now,  for  the  last 
time,  shall  our  lips  meet  in  extacy  of  union ;  when  this  fond, 
wild  moment  is  gone,  the  future  will  be  a  blank  to  me,  and  I 
shall  live  in  the  past  alone. 

Their  lips  met,  and  a  deep  thrill  of  joy  ran  trembling  through 
their  frames,  their  hearts  swelled  full,  and  they  were  speechless, 
until  gushing  from  the  soul  springs  their  tears  streamed  forth  at 
one  moment,  as  if  from  the  self  same  fountain.  It  was  a  moment 
of  bitter  pleasure,  a  rapture  of  agony,  a  blending  of  the  delicious 
waters  of  delight  with  the  salt  and  dark  stream  made  brackish 
by  the  tear-drops  of  sorrow.  A  moment  more,  and  Guatemozin 
was  gone  !  And  issuing  from  a  forest  of  flowering  shrubs  came 
the  emperor  and  his  attendants  ;  the  gorgeous  retinue  swept  by 
and  wended  their  way  to  the  palace  gates,  and  Guatemozin 
marked  the  steps  of  Montezuma  with  an  altered  heart ;  little  did 
the  monarch  know  how  he  had  been  loved  by  his  nephew,  and 
little  did  he  dream  how  he  had  severed  the  roots  of  a  deep- 
planted  affection,  by  giving  his  lovely  child  to  Cuitlahua,  and  for- 
getting the  noble  youth  who  had  doated  on  her  for  years. 


CHAPTER  X 


Upon  the  night  succeeding  that  which  Tecalco  had  spent  in  the 
Toltec's  cave,  she  started,  in  company  with  Malmiztic  and  the 
,  dwarf,  for  a  distant  hill  called  Tezcozinco.  They  journeyed 
through  the  beautiful  valley  by  moonlight,  and  the  exquisite  lake 
lay  in  the  bosom  of  the  vale  like  a  shield  of  shining  pearl,  rest- 
ing upon  the  broad  breast  of  a  huge  black  giant  sleeping  in  his 
armor.  When  they  arrived  at  the  base  of  the  hill  they  came 
upon  a  very  small  cottage  ;  Malmiztic  softly  blew  a  whistle  which 
he  had,  and  the  door  was  opened  by  a  woman  of  most  remarkable 
appearance ;  she  had  been  surpassingly  beautiful,  but  she  was 
now  far  past  the  prime  of  life  ;  the  contour  of  her  face  told  at  a 
glance  that  she  was  a  Cholulan  ;  her  brow  was  broad  and  beau- 
tiful, even  though  time  had  worn  his  traces  in  it,  and  embrowned 
its  once  clear  surface  with  a  dusky  tinge  or  stain  ;  but  her  eyes 
were  inexpressibly  line,  and  burned  amid  the  lost  loveliness  of 
her  face  like  a  lamp  in  a  sepulchre  shining  upon  withered 
flowers. 

**  Cola,"  said  Malmiztic  to  the  woman,  when  they  had  entered 
the  cot,  "  I  bring  one  to  you  whom  I  would  have  treated  better 
than  myself ;  whom  it  may  be  concerns  you  not,  suffice  it  that 
she  is  worthy  of  all  thou  canst  do  to  entertain  her ;  see  that  thou 
dost  it.  When  the  first  gray  streak  of  the  morning's  light 
creeps  over  yon  mountain  pinnacle  I  shall  return  ;  until  then,  Te- 
calco, farewell." 

And  before  the  emperor's  daughter  could  make  an  answer,  the 
figure  of  Malmiztic  had  vanished  out  of  the  narrow  doorway, 
leaving  Tecalco,  with  Cola  and  the  dwarf.  He  was  soon  on  the 
lake  in  his  swift  black  boat,  skimming  over  the  water  like  a  whip- 
poorwill  through  the  shadows  of  twilight.  He  landed  his  craft 
upon  the  bank  of  a  canal,  among  a  hundred  boats  of  fishermen 
(96) 


nsnermon     * 

_        I 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF   THE    CROSS.  97 

and  watermen,  and  boldly  ventured  into  the  heart  of  the  great 
city,  but  so  muffled  in  his  dark  mantle  that  no  one  could  discover 
who  he  was.  He  made  his  way,  without  hesitation,  through  the 
many  wanderers  who  strolled  about  in  the  soft,  sweet  night  air, 
and  was  soon  lost  in  their  midst. 

Cola  now  led  Tecalco  to  a  corner  of  the  hut,  where  she  pointed 
to  a  small  ring  in  the  floor ;  the  dwarf  stooped,  and  by  it  lifted 
up  a  trap  door,  and  they  all  three  descended  a  dark  flight  of 
stairs  whose  length  seemed  almost  interminable ;  and  far  down 
in  this  almost  fathomless  depth,  they  came  to  a  broad,  flat  land- 
ing, flagged  with  immense  slabs  of  marble,  and  from  a  hollow 
cavity  in  the  earth  a  stream  of  gas  shot  upward  and  burned  with 
a  brilliant  and  beautiful  light.  The  dwarf  now  drew  from  a  sack 
a  pair  of  silver  lamps,  and  touched  them  to  the  flame,  and  they 
passed  through  a  vast  hollow  crypt,  which  had  been  seared  and 
parched  with  fire  ;  and  still  father  on,  their  walk  lay  through 
masses  of  lava  and  ashes ;  huge  stones,  burnt  white  as  lime, 
were  scattered  around,  and  now  and  then  a  fallen  pillar  could  be 
seen  lying  in  their  way,  red  and  dusky,  like  a  shaft  of  rusting 
iron.  After  passing  through  an  immense  arched  tunnel,  they 
emerged  upon  an  open  street  of  a  subterranean  city  ;  here,  in  the 
darkness,  their  lamps  revealed  tall  trees  standing  upright,  limb- 
less, black,  and  charred,  like  rows  of  gigantic  soldiers,  their  roots 
twisting  among  and  lifiing  the  stones  of  the  pavements,  and  pal- 
aces, temples,  and  deserted  dwellings,  which  seemed  too  deso- 
late for  the  habitation  of  even  a  gnome  or  a  spectre.  Decay 
alone  appeared  to  sit  in  those  huge,  hollow  halls,  and  silently 
watched  the  wrecks  as  they  mouldered  into  dust. 

The  party  pursued  their  way  through  the  buried  ruins  of  this 
splendid  city,  traversing  street  after  street,  whose  solitude  and 
silence  were  unbroken,  save  by  the  sound  of  their  voices  and  the 
hollow  ringing  of  their  footsteps  upon  the  poHshed  pavement  of 
solid  stone,  while  high  on  either  hand  vast  piles  and  superstructures 
arose,  grey  with  age,  and  gloomy  with  shadows,  as  they  stood' in 
their  huge  grandeur  and  magnificence  as  silent  as  sepulchres, 
Now,  at  the  foot  of  a  giant  flight  of  steps,  which  led  up  to  the 
shattered  front  of  a  massive  temple,  stood  a  monster  statue  in 
marble. 
9 


98  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC ;    AND 

**This,"  said  Cola,  to  Tecalco,  "is  the  last  of  the  kings  of 
Tula,  the  concluding  link  of  the  Toltec  kings,  the  only  living 
branch  of  whom  is  the  mighty  Malmiztic.  Let  us  advance  deeper 
into  this  mysterious  abode  of  the  dead,  and  I  will  tell  something 
of  its  history." 

They  pursued  their  way  ir  silence,  and  as  they  penetrated 
the  wide  and  gloomy  streets ;  the  heart  of  Tecalco  trembled  with 
fear  and  awe.  Now,  upon  each  hand,  stood  statues  in  every 
direction,  some  perfect  and  beautiful,  while  others  were  hideous, 
.deformed,  and  defaced  ;  many  were  broken  and  unsightly ;  thou- 
sands lay  in  fragments,  scattered  in  the  streets  and  court-yards, 
and  infinite  were  the  number  which  strewed  the  earth  and  min- 
gled with  the  dust  and  red  ashes  which  encrusted  the  ground. — 
Mutilated  semblances  of  the  human  form  and  face  were  every- 
where visible  in  this  ruined  city  of  the  dead ;  they  alone  were 
the  only  types  of  humanity  which  tenanted  this  sarcophagus  of  a 
long-lost  race.  Giant  piles  and  massive  masonry  still  stood  in 
gloomy  grandeur  in  their  great  grave,  which  had  not  seen  for 
years  one  beam  of  day's  celestial  radiance,  for  all  was  one  dark 
ruin.  The  light  of  the  lamps  grew  grey  as  it  glimmered  upon 
the  black  turrets  of  tall  towers,  or  crept  through  the  cracks  and 
jBssuj'es  of  mighty  palaces  whose  halls  were  dumb  and  tenant- 
less.  Throughout  this  vast  domain  of  darkness,  not  one  sighing 
breeze  was  heard  to  murmur  through  its  hollow  labyrinths  ;  no 
gust  whistled  fitfully  through  these  unhaunted  castles.  There 
was  not  a  spider's  web,  nor  a  breath  to  wave  it  had  there  been 
one  ;  all  was  dry,  noiseless,  dark,  and  dead  ;  there  was  not  a 
a  cricket  or  a  death-watch  heard ;  the  vast  city  slept,  a  moveless, 
unlighted  mass  of  dull  decay. 

Infinite  were  the  windings  which  the  party  took  through  the 
desolate  streets,  while  the  hollow  echoes  of  their  footsteps  rang 
strangely  on  the  ear  as  they  passed  the  deserted  tenements,  tem- 
ples, and  palaces,  and  probed  their  way  into  that  city  of  dark- 
ness and  region  of  night,  where  along  their  way  dim  outlines  in- 
distinctly shadowed  forth  the  forms  of  majestic  castles,  which 
loomed  up  in  the  vague  uncertain  vault  of  vacancy,  where  not  a 
star  pierced  the  gloom ;  but  doubtful  objects  grew  huge  in  their 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  99 

proportions  as  suggestive  shadows  would  give  the  mind  a  clue 
whereby  to  grasp  some  greater  thing  beyond. 

And  thus  they  wandered  on,  the  mind  of  Tecalco  being  lost 
in  the  stupendous  grandeur  and  unearthly  gloom  which  pervaded 
this  dread  and  awful  scene  of  speechless  sublimity  and  death. 
At  length,  after  having  made  the  circuit  of  the  city,  they  entered 
one  of  the  palaces  near  the  spot  where  they  had  first  descended 
into  this  shadowy  realm.  Here  a  sight  burst  upon  her  vision, 
which  made  the  gorgeous  halls  of  her  father,  Montezuma,  seem 
naked  and  poor.  The  floor  of  the  magnificent  chamber  which 
they  entered  was  of  many-colored  marbles,  in  mosaic  work,  and 
these  were  flowered  by  hundreds  of  diamonds,  rubies,  emeralds, 
sapphires,  and  other  gems  which  were  set  in  the  masses  of  mar- 
ble with  the  most  delicate  and  exquisite  workmanship,  aad  ar- 
ranged in  the  most  beautiful  forms,  figures,  and  shapes  which 
imagination  could  invent ;  around  the  spacious  apartment  were 
hung  upon  the  walls  pictures  of  wondrous  beauty  and  brilliancy, 
whose  design,  execution,  and  coloring  were  of  surpassing  merit ; 
they  were  set  in  frames  of  solid  gold,  and  ornamented  upon  the 
margin  by  a  border  of  jewels  ;  upon  the  ceihng  were  groups  of 
exquisitely  painted  figures,  and  scenes  portraying  an  ideal  para- 
dise, while  all  around  the  apartment  stood  statues  of  the  most 
inimitable  sculpturing,  representing  almost  every  actual  or  ima- 
ginary, form  of  beauty,  while  in  all  parts  of  the  great  chamber, 
in  niches,  upon  pedestals,  and  even  ranged  upon  the  floors,  were 
vases  and  urns  of  the  rarest  carving,  most  elegant  proportion,  and 
brilliant  colors,  from  a  snowy,  transparent  alabaster,  to  bright 
dyes  of  gold  and  azure,  and  stains  of  deepest  crimson. 

Cola  seated  herself  in  one  of  the  apartments  upon  a  massive 
and  luxurious  lounge,  and  her  two  companions  followed  her  ex- 
ample ;  it  was  a  beautiful  room,  filled  with  tall  columns  of  ala- 
baster and  marble,  which  were  wrought  in  admirable  devices  of 
sculpture ;  the  ceiling  overhead  was  a  dark-blue  dome,  with  a 
moon  of  gold  standing  out  in  full  relief;  a  mummy  stood  in  a 
crystal  case,  in  each  of  the  four  corners  of  the  chamber.  The 
dwarf  lighted  a  number  of  lamps  which  tlirere  standing  in  various 
places,  and  Cola  proceeded  to  give  Tecalco  the  traditionary  his- 
tory of  this  subterranean  city,  which  she  had  learned  from  the 


100  MALMIZTIC,   THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

Toltec,  and  the  hieroglyphics  which  he  had  taught  her,  a  part 
of  which  ran  thus  : 

"  The  race  who  once  peopled  these  ruins,  worshipped  a  single 
God,  an  invisible  and  all-powerful  divinity,  and  they  grew  in 
numbers  and  prosperity  until  there  was  no  nation  like  unto  them 
for  wisdom,  plenty,  power,  and  magnificence ;  after  a  time,  their 
learning,  which  had  been  most  cherished,  grew  to  be  neglected, 
and  the  people  became  ignorant  and  forgot  the  great  maxims 
upon  which  their  simple  jand  excellent  government  was  based, 
which  were,  love  and  obey  God,  and  learn  to  make  others  happy. 
But  these  plain  precepts  fell  into  disuse,  and  they  made  them- 
selves a  king  and  set  him  over  them ;  the  king  grew  proud  of  his 
power  and  oppressed  the  people,  especially  the  poor,  whom  he 
taxed  heavily  for  the  support  of  his  magnificent  state,  and  his 
retinue  grew  so  great  that  wide  lands  were  necessary  for  their 
support,  and  numberless  slaves  for  their  attendance ;  and  these 
parasites  did  so  persuade  the  king  of  his  greatness  and  his  glory, 
that  he  caused  many  thousands  of  workmen  to  1-eave  the  support 
of  their  needy  families,  and  to  engage  in  erecting  a  great  and 
mighty  image,  a  monument  of  his  majesty ;  and  when  the  even- 
ing of  its  completion  came  about,  the  unnumbered  multitude  went 
forth  at  the  red  hour  of  sunset,  to  worship  and  adore  it,  and  they 
bowed  down  before  it,  and  decked  its  huge  pedestal  with  wreaths 
of  beautifully-painted  flowers.  That  night  the  tempest  of  the 
tropics  came  forth,  with  darkness  and  lightning,  and  the  heavy 
booming  thunders  came  rolling  through  the  mountain  pinnacles, 
and  burst  upon  the  head  of  the  gigantic  mockery  of  power,  and 
the  chains  of  lightning  ran  in  red  and  liquid  links  around  the 
spire  of  its  cloud-piercing  shaft,  and  darted  down  its  monstrous 
column  to  the  earth  ;  and  the  multitude  ran  forth,  but  stood  ap- 
palled with  awe  at  the  spectacle,  for  another  bolt  fell  with  a  start- 
ling crash,  which  shook  the  region  around,  and  the  crimson  dart 
struck  the  pillar  of  pride,  which,  reeling  upon  its  site,  was  pre- 
cipitated to  the  earth,  a  huge  and  shattered  wreck,  over  which 
the  wild  lightnings  played  and  danced  like  a  sporting  troop  of 
fire  spirits.  And  now,  the  flood-gates  of  the  skies  were  opened, 
and  as  they  were  drawn  back,  the  winds  went  forth,  and  a  roar- 
ing torrent  plunged  down  from  heaven   and   swept   the   great 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    TJfifi    CRQS8 ^^     ...   ,^   .101. 

shaft  into  the  river's  bed,  and  inuntoion  Yaii  not 'through 'the  ' 
city's  streets. 

**  The  night  stonn  passed,  and  with  the  sunshine  they  began  a 
hke  monument  to  their  king ;  the  sun  blazed  upon  the  earth  ; 
night  came,  but  no  drop  of  dew  fell.  Thus  day  succeeded  dark- 
ness, but  the  great  round  sun  rose  red  and  angry,  and  shot  his 
fiery  beams  upon  the  parching  ground  ;  flowers  withered,  and 
the  green  grass  grew  brown ;  great  trees  dropped  their  leaves, 
and  their  tender  twigs  became  sapless  ;  the  fountains  of  the  earth 
failed,  and  the  brooks  dried  up. 

"  Morning  after  morning,  the  sun  came  up  like  a  globe  on  fire, 
and  went  down  at  nightfall  in  a  dusky  crimson  drapery ;  the 
ground  cracked  open,  and  the  dry  dust  beneath  their  feet  was  hot 
and  fiery  ;  but  no  cloud  came  with  rain — one  vast  curtain  hung 
upon  the  sky  by  day,  and  a  shroud  »f  darkness  by  night ;  the 
river  sank  in  its  muddy  bed,  and  the  mud  baked  with  heat ; 
every  green  thing  was.  gone  ;  dust  was  upon  everything,  and  the 
fruitless  fields  were  crusted  and  cracked  ;  thousands  were  burn- 
ing up  with  thirst,  and  children  ran  crying  and  clamoring  about 
the  streets  for  water  ;  old  men  begged  upon  their  knees  for  only 
one  more  draught,  and  then  agreed  to  die  ;  pounds  of  precious 
metals  and  jewels  were  paid  for  a  single  cup  of  muddy  slime ; 
the  people  scattered  over  the  lands  in  search  of  water,  but  there 
was  none  ;  and  even  the  great  cisterns  of  the  king  were  getting 
low  and  foul,  and  the  workmen  dropped  down  with  their  tongues 
sticking  fast  in  their  dry  throats,  as  they  labored  upon  the  build- 
ing of  the  great  image. 

*'At  last  a  holy  hermit  came  forth  from  his  cave  in  mount  Po- 
pocatepetl, and  his  hair  and  long  flowing  beard  were  as  blanched 
as  the  white  mantle  of  the  mountain  ;  and  he  came  with  his  staff 
in  hand  fearlessly  before  the  mighty  king,  and  spake  boldly, 
saying : 

**  •  Thou  mortal  worm  !  have  done  with  this  vanity,  and  let  yon 
half- formed  spectre  of  pride,  that  ghost  which  has  made  the  faces 
of  this  people  pale,  let  it  remain  unfinished.' 

"And  the  hoary  pilgrim  turned  upon  his  stafi"  and  departed, 
without  even  looking  to  take  leave  of  the  great  king ;  but  a  thou- 
sand fell  upon  their  knees  before  the  throne,  and  besought  the 


•I0£  .    ,  MALM.IZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

monarch  to  have  pity  upon  his  people,  and  command  the  work 
to  cease ;  and  the  monarch  was  moved,  and  accordingly  he  bade 
the  builders  stop.  Suddenly  soft  showers  descended  upon  the 
dried  dust,  and  the  thirsting  thousands  had  plenty  and  pleasure. 

''But,  after  a  time,  the  heart  of  the  king  again  began  to 
swell  with  pride,  and  he  completed  the  giant  statue,  and 
then  he  collected  a  thousand  gaily-dressed  courtiers,  who 
sat  in  his  mighty  palace  hall,  feasting  and  reveling,  until  they 
were  wild  with  wine,  when  they  all  arose,  and  calling  their 
king  a  god ;  they  crowned  him  with  garlands  of  the  most  ex- 
quisite flowers,  and  danced  around  him,  singing  loud  songs  in 
his  praise.  In  the  midst  of  these  insane  orgies,  a  spectre  child, 
with  a  putrid  head,  arose,  and,  lo  !  it  was  the  phantom  figure  of  the 
Plague  !  it  mortified  and  melted  where  it  stood,  but  heart-sickness 
seized  upon  the  whole  host,  and  death  commenced  darting  in  every 
direction  through  the  hall,  and  laid  his  cold  hand  upon  the  hearts 
of  the  guests,  and  at  that  skeleton  touch  the  hfe  blood  froze  in 
their  bosoms,  and  their  limbs  were  struck  powerless  by  paralysis. 
Death  flew  from  house  to  house,  and  left  a  green  spot  upon  the 
walls,  and  the  tenants  sickened  and  died,  until  the  city  was  one 
vast  lazar-house  ;  the  husband  flew  from  his  wife,  the  brother 
from  his  sister,  the  mother  from  her  suckling  infant ;  contagion 
lurked  in  every  touch ;  it  filled  the  atmosphere  ;  all  food  was 
tainted,  and  the  water  poisoned  by  it,  and  the  living  dropped 
dead  in  their  houses,  and  the  streets  were  filled  with  decaying 
masses  of  mortality ;  wild  beasts  fed  upon  the  bodies,  and  they 
died  instantly  ;  corpses  lay  thick  throughout  the  city,  and  all 
around  the  region  likewise,  where  the  pestilence  left  no  one  of 
the  population.  Men  moved  by  each  other  as  silent  as  shadows, 
and  pale  as  ashes,  passed  on  without  a  glance  ;  the  living  would 
neither  bury  nor  burn  the  dead ;  they  fell  like  forest  trees,  and 
so  they  lay  and  rotted,  until  the  city  was  one  vast  bed  of  carrion 
and  corruption.  But  yet  the  king  held  his  horrid  revels  in  his 
pajace.  At  length  the  holy  hermit  of  Popocatepetl,  with  his 
milk-white  beard,  came,  staff  in  hand,  again '"before  the  throne, 
and  cried  : 

"  *  Oh,  mortal  worm  !  why  wilt  thou  fly  in  heaven's  face  ?  Hurl 
down  yon  aspiring  shaft,  from  whose  impious  pinnacle  death's 


r 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  103 

warriors  let  fly  their  darts,  and  transfix  a  human  heart  with  every 
arrow.  .Ay !  lay  yon  spire  low,  and  fly  into  the  wilderness,  and 
pray  to  the  one  and  only  true  God !' 

"  *  Perdition  seize  me,  if  I  move  a  stone  of  its  structure  1'  cried 
the  king;  'away  with  thee,  thou  white-bearded  fool,  or  I  will 
have  thee  scourged  to  death  for  thy  presuming.  I  am  a  god 
myself,  and  hurl  defiance  at  all  other  deities.  Wine !  Wine  !' 
cried  the  king,  and  his  countenance  grew  red  with  rage. 

**  *  Poor  worm  !'  said  the  hermit,  in  hollow  tones,  as  he  passed 
out  of  the  palace  portal.  On  his  way  out  of  the  city,  he  saw  a 
youth  upon  his  knees,  who  fervently  prayed  to  the  living  and  in- 
visible God.  *  Come  with  me,*  said  the  hermit,  and  the  youth 
rose  from  his  knees,  and  followed  him  far  ofi"  to  his  cave  In 
Popocatepetl. 

"That  night,  behold  when  the  king  was  mad  with  wine,  he 
nished  wildly  forth  into  the  streets,  and  gazing  into  the  heavens, 
gnashed  his  teeth,  and  cursed  the  God  who  made  him !  while 
the  sounds  of  riotous  revelry  echoed  from  his  palace  halls,  where 
those  who  despaired  of  life  laughed  in  the  face  of  death  !  A  bolt 
of  "lightning  dropped  blazing  from  the  sky,  and  struck  the  sacri- 
legious monster  full  in  the  brow,  and  he  fell  down  a  burnt  and 
blackened  corpse !  And  at  that  instant  the  mountain  hard  by 
was  rent  from  top  to  base,  and  through  the  vast,  yawning  chasm 
a  river  of  fiery  lava  burst  its  bounds,  and  ran  in  one  red  body 
down  the  mountain  side,  and  swift  as  the  course  of  a  charger  at 
speed,  it  encircled  the  city,  in  one  broad  belt  and  river  of  liquid 
flame  !  Black  ashes  and  monstrous  stones  came  down  thick  as 
hail  in  a  hurricane,  and  the  people  flew  to  the  palaces  for  protec- 
tion, but  the  genius  of  the  earthquake  shook  the  city  and  the 
proud  structures  crumbled  and  crushed  them  in  the  ruins.  A 
moment  more,  and  the  wide  plain  rocked  uneasily  in  its  seat,  and 
then  sank' down  in  one  broad  mass,  deep  in  its  hollow  sepulchre, 
a  city  of  the  dead  ! 

"The  youth,  who  was  the  king's  son,  whom  the  old  hermit 
had  taken  to  his  cave,  alone  remained  of  the  race ;  he,  the  wise 
sage  instructed  in  all  learning,  lore  of  art,  and  holiness,  keeping 
one  God  of  truth  and  love  ever  before  his  eyes,  and  bidding  him 
turn  with  loathing  and  horror  from  idolatry.     The  youth  profited 


104  THE    CAVALIEKS    OF    THK    CROSS. 

by  the  precepts  and  lived  until  his  own  beard  was  as  white  as 
that  of  the  holy  hermit  of  Popocatepetl ;  and  now,  one  marvel 
moreover,  that  youth  was  the  grandsire  of  our.  mighty  master, 
Malmiztic  !" 

Cola  here  finished  her  legendary  history,  and  she,  with  Tecalco, 
and  the  dwarf,  commenced  ascending  the  great  stairway  which 
led  to  the  outer  world.  After  a  long  and  weary  ascent,  in  which 
Tecalco  was  entirely  exhausted  with  toil,  they  came  at  length  to 
the  face  of  the  earth  in  the  cottage,  and  they  opened  the  door 
and  looked  forth,  and  it  was  broad  daylight !  and  there  stood 
Malmiztic,  with  his  arms  majestically  folded,  in  the  ghmpses  of 
the  morning,  while  the  sun  shot  from  his  shield  of  gold,  arrows 
of  light  against  the  grey  mantle  of  the  dawn. 


CHAPTER  XI 


Cortes  now  left  Tlascala,  and  bent  his  way  towards  Cholula, 
accompanied  by  his  old  allies,  the  Chempoallese,  and  an  immense 
host  of  the  newly  conquered  Tlascalans.  When  they  arrived 
near  the  city,  they  pitched  their  tents  in  the  fields  upon  the  out- 
skirts of  the  town,  the  inhabitants  having-  protested  against  the 
entry  of  the  Tlascalans ;  but  notwithstanding  their  show  of  ap- 
parent friendship,  Cortes  distrusted  their  sincerity,  and  time 
proved  that  his  suspicions  were  not  groundless,  for  Montezuma 
had  secretly  sent  his  priests  and  emissaries  into  the  city,  with 
orders  to  persuade  the  people  to  manifest  no  hostile  intent,  but  to 
lull  the  Spaniards  into  fancied  security,  and  when  opportunity 
presented  itself,  to  fall  upon  them,  and  spare  neither  the  Chris- 
tians nor  their  confederates.  The  intercourse  between  the  camp 
Rnd  the  city  was,  outwardly,  of  the  most  amicable  character, 
constant  exchanges  being  made  of  provisions  and  wares,  for  glass 
and  gewgaws,  and  the  Cholulans  penetrated  into  all  parts  of  the 
camp,  fearlessly  and  without  interruption,  at  the  same  time  ob- 
serving, as  spies,  all  the  power  and  appointments  of  the  Chris- 
tians and  their  allies. 

At  night,  an  ancient  Indian  woman,  of  high  rank,  came  into 
the  camp  in  search  of  Marina,  for  whom  she  had  formed  a  strik- 
ing attachment.  Having  entered  her  tent,  she  drew  Marina  into 
an  obscure  corner,  and  secretly  whispered  into  her  ear  that  there 
was  a  stratagem  on  foot  to  destroy  them  all,  from  which  destruc- 
tion she  wished  to  preserve  Marina  ;  that  even  now  the  streets 
lyere  undermined,  to  entrap  the  horses,  and  deep  pits  were  dug 
in  all  directions,  filled  with  sharp  vspikes  and  stakes,  covered  over 
so  carefully  and  ingeniously,  that  the  most  cautious  eye  could  not 
suspect  the  jeopardy,  until  they  rushed  upon  it,  and  were 
impaled. 

(105) 


106  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

The  faithful  Marina  covertly  conveyed  this  intelligence  to 
Cortes,  who  instantly  ordered  the  -woman  to  be  seized,  and  she 
confessed  the  whole  plot.  He  then  sent  secretly  for  the  Mexican  ■ 
priests,  who  were  in  the  city,  and  after  they  had  presented  them- 
selves, he  laid  before  them  his  knowledge  of  the  stratagem,  at  the 
same  time  totally  exculpated  them  from  blame,  desiring  them  to 
return  to  their  master,  Montezuma,  as  he  intended  to  punish  the 
Cholulans  for  their  perfidy.  The  priests  were  petrified  with  as- 
tonishment at  the  discovery,  which  appeared  to  them  no  less  than 
a  work  of  magic,  and  were  only  too  glad  to  escape  with  their 
lives,  and  they  hastily  departed  for  the  city  of  Mexico. 

Id  the  morning  the  place  was  found  to  be  strongly  fortified  and 
prepared  for  the  most  powerful  defence.  Terms  of  capitulation 
were  offered  them  by  Cortes,  when  he  entered  the  town,  but  the 
answer  which  he  received  was  a  shower  of  stones  and  darts, 
which  were  hurled  upon  him  and  his  followers  from  the  roofs 
and  terraces  of  the  houses,  which  were  chiefly  built  of  solid 
stone.  This  so  enraged  Cortes  that  he  commenced  an  attack 
upon  them  whose  fierceness  has  no  parallel  in  history  ;  his  allies 
rushed  upon  those  in  the  streets,  and  after  a  sharp  contest  com- 
pelled them  to  fly ;  and  time  and  again  they  formed  in  battle 
array,  but  were  forced  to  fall  back  from  the  impetuous  attack  of 
the  assailants,  who  slew  the  Cholulans  until  the  pavements  of  the 
ancient  city  blushed  with  the  blood  of  slaughter ;  and  Cortes, 
forgetting  the  high  and  honorable  maxims  of  chivalry,  burst  into 
the  dwellings,  and  with  his  followers  cut  down  the  foe  as  they 
fled,  screaming  for  their  lives. 

The  great  guns  began  their  battery  upon  the  walls  of  the  time- 
honored  buildings,  and  they  were  made  one  scene  of  wreck  and 
ruin.  Over  the  great  grey  piles  of  stone  rolled  the  dark  volume 
of  the  sulphurous  smoke,  and  the  hoarse  thunders  of  the  deep- 
mouthed  cannon  shook  the  foundations  of  the  antique  fabrics, 
and  startled  the  hearts  of  the  terrified  defendants  of  the  city. 

Remorse  was  forgotten  by  both  the  Christians  and  their  con- 
federates, and  frightful  massacre  followed.  !Nor  could  Cortes 
check  the  frightful  tide  of  murder  which  he  had  opened  upon 
the  enemy ;  the  action  had  heated  the  blood  of  the  assaulting 
parties,  and  pity  appeared  to  have  forsaken  their  hearts,  and  they 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  107 

mounted  upon  the  flat  roofs  and  hewed  down  their  defenders, 
and  drenched  the  house-tops  with  puddles  of  human  gore  ;  but 
the  Cholulans  still  kept  up  the  conflict  furiously,  fighting  with  a 
desperation  which  a  certainty  of  death  alone  can  draw  forth ;  but 
their  efforts  were  useless,  for  despite  their  momentary  repulse  of 
an  assault,  the  adversaries  would  return  with  undiminished 
vigor. 

Thus  all  day  long  this  terrible  work  of  destruction  and 
slaughter  progressed,  with  an  energy  and  ferocity  that  knew  no 
faltering.  During  the  continuance  of  the  terrific  conflict,  many 
had  cried  for  mercy  and  quarter,  but  their  shrieks  were  unheeded, 
and  the  miserable,  helpless  creatures  perished  by  the  sword, 
spear,  and  maquahuitl,  while  their  opponents  rushed  on  over 
their  corses,  like  a  hungry  troop  of  fiends,  eager  to  glut  their  ap- 
petites by  blood. 

Day  and  night  passed,  and  the  battle  continued  long  after  thfe 
besieged  had  prayed  for  a  parley,  but  no  cessation  of  hostilities 
occurred  until  all  opposition  had  entirely  ceased,  and  the  be- 
siegers were  weary  of  sacrificing  and  mutilating  their  victims. 

Cortes  now  marched  on  towards  the  capital.  Upon  one  hand, 
Montezuma  had  lined  the  way  with  troops  to  attack  and  surprise 
him ;  and  upon  the  other  route,  he  had  filled  the  narrow  moun- 
tain passes  with  huge  fragments  of  rock,  and  felled  masses  of 
giant  forest  trees  across  the  road  to  obstruct  the  passage  of  the 
troops  and  artillery,  with  parties  in  ambuscade  to  harass  him 
upon  all  sides ;  but  Cortes  immediately  set  his  Tlascalan  troops 
to  work  and  cleared  the  way  in  defiance  of  all  opposition  and 
marched  on  to  Mexico. 

News  of  the  shocking  massacre,  at  Cholula,  was  not  long  in 
reaching  the  ears  of  Montezuma,  and  startling  his  soul  upon  its 
seat.  He  convened  his  council  straightway,  and  debated  again, 
for  the  last  time,  the  question  of  what  course  should  be  pursued 
toward  the  Spaniards  and  their  associates.  Cuitlahua,  Guatemo- 
zin,  and  Cacama  advocated  resistance,  as  the  only  policy,  with  a 
most  ardent  and  determined  zeal ;  they  deemed  it  rash  and  dan- 
gerous to  allow  an  enemy  to  come  to  their  capital,  and  thus  ob- 
tain a  knowledge  of  their  power  and  resources,  and  urged  the 
imperious  necessity  of  an  immediate  and  general  attack  upon  the 


108  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

foe.  But  an  opposite  party  deprecated  such  a  course  to  the  last 
degree,  as  lacking  all  prudence  and  discretion,  and  in  this  they 
were  supported  by  Cuicuitca  and  Coanaco,  who  urged  upon  the 
assembly  the  project  of  sending  their  brother  Cacaraa  to  inter- 
cede with  Ixtliloxchitl,  who  had  gone  over,  with  his  rebel  forces, 
and  joined  Cortes,  at  Tlascala.  This,  which  was  a  scheme  for 
Cuicuitca  to  obtain  the  throne  of  Tezcuco,  seemed  so  plausible  a 
proceeding  that  it  won  the  opinion  of  a  majority  of  the  council 
assembled,  and,  among  the  rest,  of  Montezuma  himself,  who  con- 
cluded to  adopt  the  policy  with  certain  modifications,  which  were, 
first,  to  deny  their  entrance,  and  then  attempt  to  purchase  their 
departure,  by  presents,  to  dissuade  them  from  their  determina- 
tion ;  and  upon  failure  of  these  to  admit  them  to  the  city  upon 
terms  of  hospitality  ;  and,  accordingly,  notwithstanding  the  de- 
termined opposition,  upon  the  part  of  Cacama,  to  such  a  course, 
he  was  dispatched  by  Montezuma  to  Cortes,  with  superb  offer- 
ings, such  as  the  finest  mantles,  embroidered  with  the  rarest  and 
most  precious  jewels,  heaps  of  gems,  and  a  vast  sun  or  wheel  of 
sohd,  glittering  gold,  whose  value  was  far  beyond  all  the  masses 
of  that  metal  which  the  Christians  had  ever  beheld  in  Europe ; 
but  this  immense  treasure,  instead  of  satisfying  their  desire  of 
cupidity,  only  excited  their  inordinate  passion  of  avarice,  and  this 
wealth,  which  would  have  been  more  than  sufficient  for  them 
forever,  was  only  an  incentive  to  the  accumulation  of  still  more. 
And  thus  Cacama  and  his  deputies  returned  to  the  city,  without 
having  accomplished  the  object  of  their  mission,  and  the  Span- 
iards came  on  to  the  verge  of  the  mountain  wall  which  surround- 
ed the  sweet  valley  of  the  lakes. 

It  was  a  sight  which,  in  a  moment,  repaid  all  the  toil  of  the 
cavaliers  for  their  long  and  weary  marches  over  moor  and  moun- 
tain, their  hunger  and  thirst,  their  labor  and  fatigue,  battle, 
bloodshed,  and  suffering,  all,  all  was  repaid  in  this  one  glance. 
It  was  a  view  of  Eden  opened  at  their  feet ;  sunny  sheets  of  sil- 
ver water  were  spread  out  in  the  vale,  and  lay  like  mighty  shining 
mirrors,  in  which  tall  mountains  gazed  at  their  own  images,  and 
giant  pines  bowed  to  their  shadows  in  the  blue  depths  below ;  and 
there,  like  a  diamond  in  a  setting  of  silver,  in  the  midst  of  the 
lake,  the  magnificent  metropolis  stood,  with  a  thousand  spires 


/ 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF   THE   CROSS.  109 

flashing  in  the  sun — and  this  was  Mexico !  the  mark  and  goal  of 
their  desperate  and  daring  adventure.  This  one  view  rewarded 
the  labor  of  a  lifetime,  for  earth  had  not  upon  its  surface  an- 
other spot  of  such  transcendent  and  majestical  beauty ;  here  were 
cities,  floods,  forests,  plains,  rocks,  rivers,  and  mountains,  at  a 
glance  !  the  whole  glowing  in  a  light  like  a  vision  of  enchant- 
ment. From  this  crowning  height  they  descended  into  the  val- 
ley, and  pursued  their  way  along  the  plain  in  the  direction  of  the 
great  city  of  the  Aztecs.* 

****** 

It  was  midnight,  and  the  monarch,  Montezuma,  was  musing  in 
his  chamber  alone.  He  was  in  no  mood  for  company,  but  sought 
quietude,  that  he  might  have  contemplation  upon  the  various  ob- 
jects of  his  public  and  private  business. 

It  was  an  hour  of  unbroken  stillness  and  solemnity  ;  the  pale 
moon  peeped  in  at  his  latticed  windows,  by  which  a  guard  was 
ever  and  anon  pacing  back  and  forth,  keeping  his  sentinel  watch  ; 
and,  within  the  apartment,  the  tall  torches  were  burning  low,  and 
their  red  light  flickered  in  shadows  over  the  walls  and  the  royal 
tapestried  couch,  as  the  night  breeze  swept  gently  through  the 
slats  of  the  lattice,  cool  and  refreshing,  to  the  monarch  as  he  sat 
with  his  eyes  fixed  upon  the  elegantly-ornamented  walls,  where 
paintings  and  rich  draperies  were  hung  in  tasteful  array,  and  the 
mind  of  the  monarch  wandered  from  its  constant  theme  of  the 
coming  Christians  and  their  companions,  to  the  loss  of  his  daugh- 
ter, Tecalco  ;  and  as  he  pondered  upon  this  subject,  his  thought 
fell  upon  the  poor  jailor,  who  had  returned  that  day,  at  nightfall, 
after  a  friiitless  search  for  the  prisoner,  and  who  was  to  suffer 
sacrifice  in  the  morning  to  release  his  wife  and  children  at  the 
hands  of  the  priests. 

**  By  the  gleams  of  the  white  moonshine,'*  said  the  emperor, 
aloud,  but  to  himself,  musingly,  **  I  would  not  have  lost  that  man 
Malmiztic,  in  such  a  time  as  this,  for  a  score  of  Tlascalan  giants  ; 
nor  my  daughter,  for  all  the  jailors'  hearts  under  heaven.  After 
all,  the  Toltec  was  right,  for  the  giant  had  made  a  fair  defence  ; 
but  then,  the  proud  mystic  bearded  me  before  the  mob — but  how 

*"When  I  beheld  the  scenes  which  were  around  me,  I  thought  within 
myself  that  this  was  the  garden  of  the  world." — Bernal  Diaz. 


no  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTKC  ;    AND 

deadly  was  his  sword,  and  how  feeble  were  dungeons  and  chains 
to  control  his  power — biit,  since  I  can  neither  have  him,  nor  my 
daughter,  I  will  make  the  villain,  who  guarded  him,  pay  the  pen- 
alty by  the  direst  torture  which  the  cunning  of  the  priests  can 
invent."  .^ 

At  this,  the  emperQ|.!«xiade  a  vehement  gesture  with  his  right 
arm,  when  his  ear  cau^|  a  sound,  and  turning  his  eye  he  beheld 
a  black  figure  emerging  from  the  arras  ;  his  first  impulse  was  to 
cry  for  the  guard,  but  at  that  moment  his  glance  met  the  black 
eyes  of  Malmiztic.  The  moonlight,  as  he  advanced,  fell  upon 
that  flashing  and  terrible  sword  of  unknown  metal ;  seeing  it  bare 
in  the  hand  of  the  figure,  the  emperor  restrained  and  withheld 
his  voice,  and  shrank,  trembling  and  terrified,  upon  the  floor. 

"Arise,  Montezuma!"  said  Malmiztic,  for  it  was  he,  "mistake 
me  not  for  a  midnight  murderer ;  mine  is  not  the  assassin's 
calhng." 

'*  What  would  you,  then,  with  me  ?"  said  the  emperor,  with 
agitation.  '     '     ' 

"  I  hear,"  replied  the  other,  **.a  common  rumor  in  the  streets, 
that  to-morrow  you  sacrifice  the  poor  but  honest  man,  to  whom 
you  lately  entrusted  me.  It  was  no  fault  of  his  that  I  escaped, 
and  I  am  here  to  demand  of  you,  as  a  man,  his  release." 

"  Dread  being  !"  said  the  emperor,  not  yet  having  recovered 
his  self-possession,  "I  seek  not  now  your  life." 

"  Nay,"  said  the  Toltec,"  but  I  come  not  to  speak  of  myself, 
lior  with  fear  to  force  you  to  forgive  this  humble  jailor.  I  crave 
of  you,  Montezuma,  as  a  favor,  that  you  will  set  this  victim  at 
liberty,  for  his  offence  is  not  of  his  own  fault,  but  by  a  power 
over  which  he  could  have  had  no  influence.  In  a  word,  then, 
shall  he  go  free  ?" 

The  bold  Toltec  spake  this  in  such  a  resolute  and  determined 
tone,  that  the  monarch  hesitated  not  to  answer  : 

"He  shall,  Malmiztic;  but  let  me  ask  if  thou  hast  murdered 
my  daughter,  to  avenge  the  wrongs  which  I  have  done  thee  ?" 

"Why,  what  dost  thou  take  me  for?"  said  the  Toltec.  "  Mon- 
tezuma, I  am  fierce  when  driven  to  despair,  but  I  bear  no  malice 
in  my  heart ;  I  bury  the  errors  of  the  hour  whenever  they  have 
passed,  and  never  call  them  into  being  more." 


f 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.    •  til 

**  Then,  she  is  alive  1"  said  the  king,  rising  from  his  knees,  and 
clasping  his  hands  fervently,  "  and  thou  wilt  restore  her  to  a 
fond  father's  arms,  the  peerless  flower  of  my  heart's  garden  !" 

*'Ay,  Montezuma,"  answered  the  other,  "she  shall  return  to 
thee,  as  pure,  uninjured,  and  undefiled  as  the  moment  when  she 
fled  from  your  roof,  to  visit  the  hidden  mansion  of  him  who  now 
stands  before  you ;  and  as  you  bear  a  father's  love  to  your  child, 
think  upon  the  bliss  which  you  will  bestow,  when  by  a  word  you 
can  give  back  this  poor  jailor  to  the  bosom  of  his  wife,  and  the 
caresses  of  his  harmless  babes." 

"I  swear  it,  Malmiztic,"  said  the  monarch,  "  by  the  shadow 
of  the  sun  upon  the  dial,  that  not  an  hour  shall  go  by  the  dawn, 
until  that  captive  shall  pass  free  from  his  prison." 

"If  so,"  said  the  other,  in  answer,  "another  day  shall  not 
rise  thereafter,  until  thy  daughter  is  restored  to  thee — farewell." 

"But,  stay!"  said  the  king;  "Malmiztic,  I  have  done  you 
wrong ;  canst  thou  forgive  me,  even  as  I  have  pardoned  thee  ? 
Return,  and  be  once  more  my  friend,  and  let  all  be  forgotten." 

"My  liege,"  said  the  stately  Toltec,  bowing  his  broad  head, 
"  I  bury  the  past  in  the  shadows  of  its  own  darkness." 

So  saying,  he  passed  out  of  the  palace,  as  silently  as  he  had 
entered,  and  disappeared  in  the  dim  and  doubtful  light  of  the 
grey-robed  dawn. 

In  the  morning,  Montezuma  commanded,  to  the  astonishment 
of  all,  that  the  jailor  be  released.  The  priests  raged ;  the  peo- 
ple were  delighted,  for  the  jailor  was  a  good  man,  and  beloved 
by  many  ;  and  when  his  wife  and  children  were  brought  forth, 
and  he  clasped  her  to  his  bosom,  and  his  children  clung  to  his 
knees,  the  mob  were  melted  to  tears,  and  shouted : 

"  Long  live  Montezuma  !  our  good,  forgiving  king  !" 

But  soon  the  news  came  that  the  Christians  were  at  hand  in 
the  valley  hard  by,  and  now  marched  towards  the  city ;  and  the 
manner  in  which  the  monarch  now  went  forth  to  meet  Cortes,  is 
thus  told  by  an  ancient  writer  :* 

"He  appeared  with  a  most  numerous  and  noble  attendance; 
three  nobles  preceded,  each  holding  in  his  hand  a  golden  rod  as 


*  Clavigero. 


112  MALMIZTIO,    THE    TOLTEC ,'    AND 

the  insignia  of  majesty,  b)^  which  the  people  were  advertised  of 
the  presence  of  their  sovereign.  Montezuma  came,  richly  clad,  in 
a  litter  covered  with  plates  of  gold,  which  four  nobles  bore  on 
their  shoulders,  under  the  shade  of  a  parasol  of  green  feathers, 
embroidered  with  fancy  works  of  gold  ;  he  wore,  hanging  from 
his  shoulders,  a  mantle  adorned  with  the  richest  jewels  of  gold 
and  precious  stones  ;  on  his  head,  a  thin  crown  of  the  same  metal, 
and  upon  his  feet,  shoes  of  gold,  tied  with  strings  of  leather 
worked  with  gold  and  gems." 

Thus  he  proceeded  out  upon  the  peninsula,  which  separated 
lake  Tezcuco  from  Chalco.  After  having  crossed  the  great 
causeway  which  led  through  the  lake  from  the  capital,  he  was 
met  by  the  Christian  cavaliers  and  their  commander,  Cortes, 
who  advanced  with  a  bold  air,  and  was  upon  the  eve  of  em- 
bracing the  majestic  monarch,  when  his  attendants,  horrified 
at  such  familiarity  being  taken  with  their  sovereign,  hastily  inter- 
fered and  prevented  the  unpardonable  sacrilege.  After  this  in- 
terruption, the  interview  proceeded  with  diplomatic  gravity,  and, 
through  the  medium  of  Marina,  the  Indian  interpreter,  Cortes 
communicated  the  intelligence  that  he  had  been  sent  by  his 
sovereign,  the  great  emperor  of  the  east,  to  bear  messages  of 
greeting  to  Montezuma,  the  mighty  monarch  of  the  west.  Here- 
upon the  latter  offered  rich  presents  to  this  royal  messenger  from 
the  Orient,  and  indicated  a  desire  for  his  departure ;  but  the  self- 
constituted  ambassador  of  the  king  of  Spain  was  too  well  versed 
in  the  history  of  Machiavelli  to  obey  this  hint,  and  therefore  most 
respectfully  declined  to  return,  stating  that  his  monarch  md 
master  would  not  deem  that  he  had  discharged  properly  the 
duties  of  his  office,  unless  he  had  visited  and  spent  some  time  in 
the  mighty  metropolis  of  the  western  world. 

Findinof  that  Cortes  would  not  be  overruled  in  his  determina- 
tion,  the  emperor  proceeded  to  escort  him  into  the  city,  and  the 
entry  was  one  of  great  martial  magnificence.  The  gorgeous 
standard  of  Castile,  and  all  the  armorial  blazonry  of  the  Chris- 
tians, were  displayed,  and  nothing  which  could  add  to  the  pomp 
and  splendor  of  the  entry  was  neglected.  The  bright  lances  flash- 
ed and  sparkled  in  the  sun,  and  the  stirring  notes  of  the  trumpet 
brayed    thrillingly  through   the    valley,    as    the   horsemen  and 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  113 

infantry  of  the  Spaniards  led  the  way,  followed  by  their  artillery, 
whose  hoarse  thunders  saluted  the  city  at  their  approach,  while 
the  bursts  of  smoke  faded  over  the  blue  bosom  of  the  lake. — 
Behind  them  succeeded  the  long  lines  of  Totonaca  and  Tlascalan 
allies,  upon  whom  the  hosts  which  c^me  out  to  meet  the  Chris- 
tians, cast  deadly  glances  of  hatred. 

They  all  crossed  the  causeway;  and  that  night  the  daring 
Cortes  and  his  invincible  companions,  were  placed  in  the  ancient 
palace  of  King  Axajacatl,  in  the  midst  of  the  city  of  Mexico, 
and  the  heart  of  the  Aztec  empire  ! 


10 


CHAPTER  XII 


Montezuma  held  his  council  secretly  in  his  palace,  to  learn  the 
disposition  of  the  various  sages  and  nobles  of  the  realm  ;  among 
the  first  who  arose  was  the  wily  Cuicuitca;  he  addressed  the 
assembled  body  thus : 

"  Most  royal  sovereign  and  sapient  counsellors  :  it  is  with  dif- 
fidence that  I  arise  in  your  august  presence,  to  give  utterance  to 
the  views  which  I. entertain,  as  to  the  proper  policy  of  our  king 
and  government  towards  ihe  strangers  who  are  now  our  guests  in 
this  city.  If  there  is  one  evil  among  men,  more  dreadful  than 
all  the  rest,  that  evil  is  war ;  it  is  a  disaster,  which  has  a  train 
of  trouble  following  in  its  footsteps  ;  it  is  a  blow,  like  an  axe 
stricken  in  the  tree  of  our  government,  time  may  heal  it  over, 
but  the  wound  cankers  the  core.  When  our  king  conquered  the 
various  realms  around,  it  was  to  chastise  the  marauder,  and  to 
protect  the  peaceful  against  the  power  of  force,  fraud,  rapine, 
and  violence ;  but  now,  the  necessity  no  longer  exists,  the  vari- 
ous tl'ibes  have  ceased  their  feuds,  and  the  kingdom  should  be 
permitted  to  settle  firmly  upon  its  foundation." 

"  Sages,"  said  Montezuma,  "our  cousin,  Cuicuitca,  says  well; 
this  is  no  time  to  brew  a  dissension  at  home,  with  our  tributaries, 
or  with  this  embassy  of  the  great  emperor  of  the  east.  We  have 
heard  fearful  news  of  these  men,  but  we  find  them  peaceful  peo- 
ple, courteous  and  complaisant,  bold  in  their  bearing,  and  honest 
in  their  action  ;  their  intent  cannot  be  hostile,  or  if  it  were,  their 
power  is  too  limited  to  injure  us,  while  they  must  be  irresistibly 
overwhelmed  should  they  be  mad  enough  to  attempt  anything 
offensive.  Their  purpose,  I  am  persuaded,  is  an  idle  curiosity 
to  see  the  wonders  of  our  land,  to  bear  the  news  back  to  their 
monarch,  and  when  the  novelty  of  the  thing  has  passed,  they 
will  quietly  return  to  the  lands  from  whence  they  came.  How 
(114) 


THE    UAVALIEKS    OF    THE    CROSS.  115 

can  we  say  that  these  are  not  the  men  of  destiny,  of  whom  our 
prophets  and  oracles  have  so  frequently  spoken  ?  Wherever  they 
have  fought  on  their  way  to  our  capital,  fortune  has  invariably 
followed  their  banner ;  and  the  strange  monsters,  which  fly  over 
the  fields  with  them  upon  their  backs,  prove  that  they  are  some- 
thing more  than  mere  men ;  and  again,  their  terrific  implements 
of  Avarfare,  which  not  only  sweep  down  ranks  of  soldiers,  like 
autumn  leaves,  but  burst  through  the  most  substantial  walls 
of  stone,  would  render  a  contest  with  them  not  only  rash  but 
futile.  I,  therefore,  reverend  sages  and  learned  counsellors,  sub- 
mit it,  as  my  firm,  settled  conviction,  that  this  is  no  time  to  make 
a  breach  of  peace,  and  open  hostilities  against  an  unoffending 
and  dangerous  people." 

Cacamanow  arose,  when  the  monarch  had  ceased,  and,  throw- 
ing his  bright  eyes  around  over  the  assemblage,  began  thus : 

''Our  most  royal  king  and  sapient  sirs:  it  may  be  that  I  am 
too  bold  to  come  fresh  upon  the  footsteps  of  majesty,  and  ready 
to  attack  the  position  he  has  taken,  and  push  his  tower  of  reason 
from  its  foundation  ;  but  my  sense  of  duty  to  my  king,  my  coun- 
try, and  my  conscience,  forbids  me  to  stand  silent,  while  I  feel 
that  a  course  is  about  to  be  pursued,  which  will  be  as  puerile  in 
our  soldiership  as  it  will  be  pernicious  to  our  policy.  Why  should 
we  parley  for  peace,  or  crave  favor  from  those  who  are  the  fast 
friends  of  our  enemies,  the  Tlascalans?  Saving  your  presence 
and  opinion  to  the  contrary,  my  honored  sovereign,  I  hold  him 
no  wise  counsellor,  who  says,  let  the  stranger  have  a  home  in  our 
midst.  Have  we  not  rebellious  spirits  in  the  very  heart  of  our 
country ,^s  is  plainly  proven  by  the  course  of  our  brother,  Ixtli- 
loxchitl,  and  his  confederates  ?  Grave  sirs,  I  hold  it  far  from 
prudent  to  harbor  these  men  and  their  villanous  allies,  even  for  a 
day.  If  their  designs  are  honest,  why  need  they  hide  them  from 
us  ?  But,  instead  of  making  their  purposes  plain,  they  disguise 
them  under  frivolous  subterfuges  ;  schemes  so  false  and  shallow, 
that  we  should  be  simply  fools  to  be  deceived  by  them." 

Cacama  took  his  seat,  and  the  hum  of  voices  was  heard  in  the 
assembly,  whispering  and  consulting;  now,  one  could  be  seen 
energetically  declaiming,  in  an  earnest  but  subdued  manner,  and 


116  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

significant  nods  and  looks,  which  expressed  as  much  as  words, 
were  interchanged  among  the  members  of  the  council.  At 
length  Coanoco,  one  of  the  Tezcucan  princes,  asked  the  ear  of 
the  assembly : 

"Why!"  said  he,  proudly,  ''should  we  feel  disposed,  we 
could  crush  these  Christians  at  a  blow ;  but  it  is  better  that  we 
keep  upon  terms  with  them,  and  thereby  we  may  entrap  these 
knavish  Tlascalans,  and,  in  the  end,  gain  more  by  stratagem  than 
open  war  ;  and  if  the  king  of  this  Christian  host  should  hear  that 
we  had  treated  his  subjects  severely,  when  they  oflfered  to  act 
prudently  and  peacefully,  it  might  chance  to  bring  a  war  upon 
our  hands,  from  a  far  more  fearful  power  than  this  handful,  who 
are  here.  The  strange  solicitude,  exhibited  by  our  brother  Ca- 
cama,  to  drive  them  forth  at  once,  argues  that  he  fears  this  pal- 
try handful  of  white  faces,  and  the  horde  of  black-hearted 
Tlascalans  who  follow  them.  At  present,  all  is  calm;  and  to 
raise  a  storm  to  burst  upon  our  own  heads,  when  all  may  be 
quietude  and  sunshine,  were  a  work  of  the  maddest  folly ;  and 
this  anticipation  of  evil,  upon  the  part  of  our  brother,  is  an  over- 
wise  piece  of  foresight,  which  would  plunge  a  nation  unnecessa- 
rily into  a  bloody  war." 

"With  every  deference  let  it  be  spoken,  our  brother  and  sove- 
reign," said  Cuitlahua,  prince  of  Iztapalapan,  to  Montezuma,  "I 
think  this  course  is  false.  For,  myself,  I  can  see  nothing  in  the 
action  and  character  of  the  new  comers,  but  a  bloody  march  of 
conquest,  and  for  a  breathing  space  they  come  into  our  very 
midst,  to  mark  our  movements  and  refresh  themselves,  until  they 
can  begin  anew  the  scenes  which  they  have  enacted  Jf-om  the 
coast  to  Cholula.  What  time  is  there  to  wait,  and  what  should 
we  wait  for  ?  That  they  may  leave  ?  Trust  me,  mighty  mon- 
arch and  grave  counsellors,  if  they  leave,  it  will  be  but  to  bring 
a  new  swarm  of  like  blood-suckers  upon  our  shores ;  and  when 
the  footing,  which  they  have  in  the  heart  of  this  city,  shall  have 
become  secure,  then,  mark  me,  insurrection  will  rock  the  Aztec 
empire  to  its  very  centre.  Treason  needs  but  little  time  for  head, 
and  this  is  a  company  from  which  no  good  can  come  ;  for,  mark 
you,  had  they  acted,  as  you  bade,  they  should  have  turned  them 


I 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THPI    CROSS.  Il7 

whence  they  came,  but  lo !  they  bid  defiance  to  your  plain  direc- 
tion, and,  in  the  face  of  thy  mandate,  camp  in  the  heart  of 
Tenochtitlan." 

"Well,  well,"  said  the  emperor,  "we  will  let  this  matter  rest 
for  the  present  time." 

**  Saving  you,  sire,"  said  Guatemozin,  rising  suddenly,  **  I  say 
nay !  Now  is  the  time,  or  never,  to  decide  !  Why  sit  we  here, 
shifting  and  vacillating  in  our  seats  and  minds  ?  To  what  end 
do  we  defer  the  day  when  this  matter  may  be  determined  ?  Your 
counsellors  say,  let  us  wait  in  peace  !  that  peace  will  be  our  bane  ; 
shall  the  bird  look  into  the  serpent's  charming  eye  until  it  feels 
its  fangs  ?  I  claim  no  foresight  for  myself,  but  I  can  see,  with- 
out the  diviner's  art,  a  spark  now  kindling  at  the  foundation  of 
this  empire ;  time  is  its  fuel,  and  though  the  flame  may  not  flash 
from  the  earth,  nor  the  sound  of  the  sword  be  heard,  yet,  like 
the  fires  which  burn  in  the  hidden  caves,  a  vast  furnace  will  be 
glowing,  and  the  earthquake  shock  alone  will  give  note  of  dan- 
ger, while  thy  throne  is  sinking  on  its  site.  These  men  are  stem 
and  fearful  warriors ;  the  wild  bursts  of  thunder  and  the  red 
darts  of  lightning  are  in  their  hands  ;  if  they  enter  in  our  midst, 
they  must  command  us  all,  in  time ;  the  strength  of  their  mysteri- 
ous minds  must  overmaster  us,  as  their  weapons  will  defeat  ours. 
Plant  here  the  banner  of  their  cross,  and  let  this  be  the  temple  of 
their  God,  and  I  will  answer  with  my  hfe,  that  the  vengeance  of 
our  own  Mexitli  will  descend  from  heaven  upon  us  with  a  curse  ; 
we  shall  be  blasted  on  the  earth,  in  the  green  prime  of  our  glory, 
for  forgetting  him,  whose  arm  has  been  our  strength  in  battle, 
and  whose  hand  has  scattered  flowers  of  happiness  over  our 
smiHng  and  sunny  land.  My  lords,  this  is  no  time  to  dream ; 
this  will  be  a  sleep  from  which  this  nation  can  never  wake — a 
soft,  delusive  repose,  creeping  over  our  national  faculties,  which 
will  gradually  grow  darker,  until  a  terrible  nightmare,  which 
cannot  be  shaken  off"  (like  the  folds  of  a  fearful  serpent),  will 
paralyze  our  powers,  and  we  shall  struggle  ineff'ectually  in  a  con- 
vulsive death.  Why,  my  sovereign  and  lords,  should  you  nurse 
and  cherish  this  monster,  which  will  rise  and  desolate  your 
homes  ?  For  me,  if  I  can  find  but  one  man  upon  our  green  hills, 
who  will  stand  by  my  side,  I  will  swear  that  no  foreign  foeman. 


118  MALMIZTIC,  THE   TOLTEC  ;    AND 

come  in  what  guise  he  may,  shall  ever,  with  my  consent,  set  his 
rulers  in  the  councils  of  my  fathers,  or  plant  his  idols  in  the  tem- 
ple of  their  gods.  Would  ye  see  the  dark-haired  maidens  of  our 
vales  and  mountains  loop  their  black  locks  with  white  flowers,  to 
be  the  brides  of  strangers — strangers  to  our  homes,  our  altars,  and 
our  hearts — fierce  strangers,  whose  walk  through  the  depth  of 
the  dark  wilderness  is  marked  by  the  stain  of  blood,  and  the 
grave  of  him  who  fell  nobly  fighting  for  the  heirloom  of  his  an- 
cestry and  the  honor  of -his  native  land  ?  Men,  who  are  alien  to 
our  laws  and  sympathies,  and  who  would  subvert  the  purposes 
of  our  government,  and  annihilate  the  social  order  of  the  land ; 
men,  whose  interest  will  be  foreign  to  our  own,  and  who  have,  as 
yet,  shown  nothing  more  clear  in  their  characters  than  blood- 
thirstiness  and  avarice ;  whose  hungry,  famished  eagerness  would 
make  us  believe  that  gold  was  their  only  god,  and  that  happiness 
and  heaven  were  to  be  attained  and  purchased  thereby  ?  Whence, 
then,  my  lords,  comes  there  a  benefit  in  such  men  being  here  ? 
Do  they  make  us  better  men  at  heart  ?  Do  they  add  another 
star  to  the  lights  of  our  minds  ?  Do  they  give  us  empire  or 
wealth,  learning  or  food,  art  for  our  improvement,  or  medicines 
for  our  ills  ?  Do  they  open  new  treasures  in  the  earth,  or  bring 
forth  new  corn  and  fruits  from  the  ground  ?  Is  not  our  moun- 
tain air  as  pure  without  their  sulphurous  smoke  ?  Have  we  not 
wars  enough  among  ourselves,  and  implements  of  death  for  bat- 
tle-fields ?  Out,  then  !  I  say,  upon  the  policy,  whose  tame  inac- 
tivity compels  us  to  cringe,  and  with  submission  sanction  an 
invasion  which  justice  calls  upon  us  so  loudly  to  repel.  I  swear, 
by  the  dread  power  that  rules  us  all,  that  I  would  rather  have 
the  pale  lilies  of  the  valley  weeping  upon  my  grave,  than  to  hear 
that  Mexico  was  a  dependency  upon  a  foreign  power,  or  that 
my  sovereign  should  be  the  slave  or  subject  of  any  unknown 
emperor." 

When  Guatemozin  ceased  speaking,  his  fine  ^gure  was  drawn 
up  to  its  full  height,  and  the  extraordinary  beauty  of  his  face, 
naturally,  was  increased,  until  it  glowed  with  a  seraphic  majesty, 
blent  with  such  dehcate  and  rapid  flashes  of  intellect,  that  even 
those  who  were  most  opposed  to  his  sentiments  could  not  with- 
hold their  admiration  of  this  magnificent  embodiment  of  intel- 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  119 

lectual  and  physical  beauty.  But  the  brow  of  the  monarch 
darkened  more  than  it  had  ever  been  seen  to  do  in  a  public  as- 
sembly, upon  even  the  most  exciting  occasions.  He  rose  trem- 
bhng  with  wrath  and  confusion ;  the  irresistible  eloquence  of  the 
other  contrasted  strangely  with  the  disconnected  and  vehement 
style  of  Montezuma  ;  his  face  flushed,  and  his  voice  quivered,  as 
he  proceeded  to  depict  the  error  of  involving  the  land  in  an  un- 
necessary war  with  a  people  whose  powers  were  terrible  and  not 
fully  comprehended. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  monarch's  speech  he  poured  his  full 
flood  of  denunciation  upon  the  head  of  Guatemozin,  upbraiding 
him,  as  a  rash,  impetuous,  hair-brained  boy,  to  follow  whose  dic- 
tates would  inevitably  plunge  them  into  a  difficulty,  in  which  they 
might  be  irretrievably  lost.  He  then  rated  Cacama  as  being 
hasty  and  imprudent,  and  reproached  Cuitlahua,  as  having  lost 
his  usual  judgment  and  discretion ;  he  expressed  his  determined 
resolution,  to  maintain,  at  all  hazard,  a  pacific  intercourse  with 
Cortes  and  his  companions. 

Guatemozin  dropped  his  head  upon  his  hand  and  sat  in  silence. 
Cuitlahua  gave  a  derisive  laugh  and  turned  aside,  while  Cacama 
gathered  his  graceful  cloak  proudly  around  him,  and,  with  a 
stern  scowl  upon  his  brow,  stalked  majestically  out  of  the  room. 

Montezuma  then  dissolved  the  assembly ;  but  the  speech  of 
Guatemozin  had  rendered  the  course  of  the  emperor  very  objec- 
tionable to  many  members  of  the  council,  and  a  discontented 
spirit  was  carried  to  the  heart  of  the  great  city. 

Through  the  whole  capital  it  was  the  sole  subject  of  popular 
discussion ;  some  sided  with  the  emperor,  and  held  that  it  was 
better  to  make  friends  than  foes  ;  besides  his  name  was  a  tower 
of  strength,  and  there  was  that  awe,  which  always  clothed  the 
person  of  Aztec  monarchs,  that  still  wielded  a  powerful  influ- 
ence with  the  mass  of  the  people ;  but,  nevertheless,  others,  ex- 
cited by  their  hatred  against  the  Tlascalans,  and  jealous  of 
having  these  strangers  encamped  in  the  castle  of  Axajacatl,  the 
ancient  home  of  their  kings,  were  violent  in  their  denunciations 
of  his  quiet  course  of  proceeding,  with  a  body  of  men  whom 
they  deemed  nothing  more  than  spies. 

After  the  council  was  dissolved,  Montezuma  sought  Cuitlahua, 


120  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

and  used  every  inducement  to  bring  hira  over  to  his  policy  ;  but 
it  was  unavailing,  the  stern  warrior  was  immovable  ;  his  argu- 
ment was  the  battle-shout  and  the  flash  of  the  maquahuitl,  and 
his  scheme,  to  seize  the  Christians  and  immolate  them,  in  one 
body,  upon  the  pinnacle  of  the  Teocallis. 

"Blood  and  death!"  cried  he,  **  dost  thou  think,  Montezuma, 
that  I,  thy  brother,  would  quail  to  do  this  ?  Give  me  thy  gov- 
ernment, and  before  the  horns  of  the  moon  shall  look  thrice  over 
yon  mountain  height,  there  shall  not  be  a  stranger  foot  pressing 
the  pavement  of  Tenochtitlan.  But  I  am  no  man  of  words ;  do 
what  you  will,  Cuitlahua  shall  never  have  it  upon  his  tomb  that 
that  he  gave  a  foeman  a  foothold  in  the  empire  of  his  ancestors." 

"Still,  you  will  not  hear  me,"  said  Montezuma,  "I  would 
spare  the  lives  of  my  people.  These  men  will  not  leave,  save 
of  their  own  accord  ;  provoke  them  to  battle,  and  where  will  it 
end  ?  Allow  them  their  own  course,  and  they  will  soon  grow 
weary  of  this  place  and  leave  us  to  ourselves." 

"  Dost  thou  think,"  answered  the  other,  "  that  this  submission 
to  the  ingress  of  strange  gods  will  not  provoke  our  own  ?" 

*'  Surely,"  said  the  monarch,  "there  must  be  wondrous  power 
in  those  divinities  whom  these  strangers  serve,  else  how  comes  it 
that  opposition  seems  of  no  avail  against  them  ;  numbers  have 
not  checked  their  progress,  nor  valor  either,  else  had  they  never 
left  the  field  alive,  when  Xicotencatl  marched  down  upon  them 
with  the  Tlascalan  hosts.  No,  no,  there  is  more  might  in  their 
gods,  Cuitlahua,  than  we  dream  of." 

"  Our  gods  against  their  gods !"  said  the  prince  of  Iztapala- 
pan  ;  "  and  our  gods  against  the  world !  When  they  desert  us, 
it  is  time  for  us  to  die  ;  and  if  we  desert  them,  I  say,  we  are 
dastards  and  cowards,  and  do  not  deserve  the  grace  and  favor 
which  they  have  shown  to  us  from  the  hour  when  the  great 
snow-white  eagle,  who  led  us  from  the  north,  perched  on  the 
nopal  by  the  lake  side,  to  this  day,  when  our  empire  is  extended 
to  either  ocean.  Blood  and  death  !  are  we  to  suffer  ourselves  to 
be  bound,  hand  and  foot,  without  a  blow  ?  I  will  plant  myself 
by  the  standard  of  my  country,  and,  come  life  or  death,  I  will 
maintain  its  supremacy  and  honor,  or  perish  in  the  attempt." 

"  Before  you  go  farther,  Cuitlahua,"  said  the  emperor,  with  a 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  12t 

resolute  look,  "you  must  hear  me:  I  have  used  all  the  powers 
of  persuasion,  which  are  in  my  possession,  to  try  to  convince  and 
persuade  you  to  be  guided  by  me,  and  follow  my  directions ; 
these  efforts  have  been  unavailing,  and  now,  mark  me,  I  have 
promised  my  daughter  Tecuiclipo's  hand  to  you,  and  refused 
Guatemozin ;  but  since  you  have  determined  to  withdraw  your 
support  from  me,  I  also  withdraw  my  promise,  and  with  it  my 
daughter's  hand." 

"Nay,  you  will  not  do  that  1'*  said  Cuitlahua,  starting  back. 

"Yea,  by  the  heart  of  Huitzilopotchtli,  will  I !"  said  the  em- 
peror, firmly ;  "  none  but  friend  shall  have  my  flesh  and  blood  ; 
and  he  that  opposes  me  in  principle,  is  as  much  my  foe  as  my 
declared  enemy.  Gods  of  my  forefathers  !  it  seems  to  me  that 
my  powers  are  all  upon  the  wane  ;  my  reason  and  authority 
weigh  as  the  beard  of  a  thistle,  blown  hither  and  thither  by  the 
popular  breath ;  I  have  no  voice  to  command,  no  judgment  to 
dictate  or  direct,  nor  power  to  persuade.  By  the  mansions  of  the 
sun  !  it  is  time  that  I  roused  myself,  or  being  so  much  swayed 
by  the  will  of  others,  I  shall  have  no  will  of  my  own.  Why  do 
you  thus  thwart  me  ?  Would  you  have  me  kneel  and  pray  to 
you  to  be  persuaded  ?  If  you  will  be  blind  and  perverse,  go,  go 
join  Ixtliloxchitl,  the  rebels,  the  Otomies,  the  Tlascalans,  if  you 
like,  raise  what  mutinies  you  will,  without  my  city — sow  what 
discords  you  like,  but  let  it  not  be  upon  my  fields ;  leave  me  and 
mine  to  peace ;  and  if  nothing  will  serve  you  but  war,  have  your- 
own  course,  and  run  riot  in  bloodshed ;  yea !  'till  your  whitest 
banner  shall  become  crimson  ;  but,  mark  you  well,  no  daughter 
of  mine  shall  ever  follow  the  footsteps  of  mine  enemy,  and  I  hold 
him  such  who  will  now  declare  against  keeping  quietude  with 
these  strange  and  powerful  Christians." 

This  speech  surprised  the  prince  of  Iztapalapan,  and  alarmed 
him  for  fear  of  the  loss  of  his  intended  bride ;  so,  disguising 
his  feelings  and  altering  his  tone  of  voice,  he  answered  : 

"Nay,  Montezuma,  you  mistake  me  ;  I  am  no  enemy,  nor  will 
I  link  myself  in  an  alliance  with  any  foe  to  Mexico.  What  I  have 
asserted,  was  upon  honest  conviction ;  what  I  have  offered,  has 
been  as  advice  ;  if  you  like  not  my  measures,  sanction  them  not, 
I  can  be  neutral — I  can  stand  aloof  and  let  wiser  heads  than 
11 


122  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC,    ETC. 

mine  direct  the  machinery  of  the  government ;  I  know  that  my 
hand  is  worth  more  in  the  battle-field,  than  my  head  in  the  council- 
house.  So,  from  this  time  forth,  demand  me  when  my  country 
calls,  and  you  will  find  no  follower  in  your  hosts  more  ready  to 
obey  your  commands  or  support  your  throne." 

**  Then,  be  it  so,"  said  the  monarch,  **  and  if  I  find  your  ac- 
tion in  keeping  with  your  word,  I  will  reward  you,  not  as  a  sub- 
ject, according  to  desert,  but  as  a  brother,  whose  merit  has  won 
a  stronger  hold  upon  the  emperor's  afifections  than  the  tie  of 
natural  love  alone  could  give." 

With  this,  they  parted ;  Cuitlahua  to  ponder  upon  and  con- 
demn his  brother's  course  of  conduct,  and'  Montezuma  to  visit 
the  bold  Christian,  who  had  so  peacefully  set  himself  down  in  a 
convulsed  capital,  as  calmly  as  an  albatross,  who,  perched  upon 
an  ocean  rock,  quietly  watches  the  broad  billows  break  in  snowy 
surges  all  around  her  coral  promontory. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


Early  upon  the  following  morning,  Montezuma  invited  Cortes 
to  accompany  him  in  visiting  the  various  objects  of  entertainment 
in  and  about  the  great  city.  The  Christian  general  accepted  the 
proposition  ;  so,  taking  with  him  a  few  of  his  most  important  offi- 
cers and  friends,  among  whom  were  Alvarado,  Olid,  and  Sando- 
val, they  set  out  to  satisfy  their  curiosity.  Palace  after  palace 
was  entered,  where  all  the  refinements  of  the  Aztec  idea  of  civili- 
zation were  abundantly  exhibited.  They  made  an  ascent  of  the 
great  temple,  after  having  surveyed  the  vast  wall  by  which  it  was 
surrounded,  in  which  wall  the  priests  had  habitations  or  cells, 
like  monks,  and  from  whence  they  could  be  seen  ascending  and 
descending  the  broad  flight  of  steps  which  surrounded  the  vast 
pyramid,  upon  whose  summit  Montezuma  showed  them  the  altar 
stone  of  sacrifice,  and  the  sanctuary  of  the  idol,  and  the  priests, 
with  their  long  black  hair  clotted  with  dry  blood,  and  the  smooth 
stone  floor  spotted  with  gory  stains.  At  this  sight  the  gorge  of 
the  Spaniards  rose  with  disgust  and  horror,  and  at  this  point 
Cortes  took  occasion  to  preach  a  sermon  from  this  pinna- 
cle of  paganism,  wherein  he  attempted  to  persuade  the  monarch 
of  the  unnatural  and  unholy  character  of  such  worship,  and  at 
the  same  time,  enlarging  upon  the  purity  and  perfection  of  the 
Catholic  faith  ;  to  all  of  which  Montezuma  gave  the  most  respect- 
ful and  attentive  hearing,  but  answered  the  Spanish  general,  by 
saying,  that  however  excellent  the  gods  of  the  Christians  might 
be,  and  he  doubted  not  they  were  most  potent  and  wise  deities, 
yet,  as  the  gods  of  his  fathers  had  ever  been  kind  and  just  to  his 
Aztec  children,  he  would  still  place  his  hope  and  faith  in  them  ; 
and  with  this  he  off'ered  up  a  prayer  for  the  sacrilegious  words 
which  had  been  uttered  by  the  Spaniards,  in  this  the  very 
heart  of  his  temple,  and  in  sight  of  his  own  altar-stone. 

(123) 


124  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

From  this  the  parties  made  their  way  around  the  city,  and, 
after  having  witnessed  many  objects  of  beauty,  splendor,  and 
magnificence,  they  wended  their  way  along  the  great  causeway 
toward  Chapoltepec,  where  the  monarch  pointed  out  the  huge 
work  of  masonry,  whose  tunnel  bore  through  the  salt  lake  the 
pure,  sweet  water  from  the  distant  hills,  which  furnished  the  capi- 
tal a  full  supply  at  all  seasons.  At  the  foot  of  the  hill  of  Cha- 
poltepec, they  came  upon  the  most  beautiful  and  highly-cultivated 
gardens,  which  eye  ever  rested  upon  ;  trees,  shrubs,  plants,  and 
flowers  of  the  rarest  and  most  exquisite  varieties,  gleamed  in  the 
soft,  purple  light  of  that  November  day ;  from  intricate,  vine- 
laced  bowers,  wild  songsters  delighted  the  ear  of  the  Christians 
with  melodies  by  them  unheard  before.  Emerging  from  one  of 
these  thickets,  at  the  foot  of  the  knoll  upon  which  they  stood,  was 
an  artificial  lake,  with  square  sides,  approachable  by  descending 
wide  marble  steps,  whose  base  was  washed  by  the  rippling  wave- 
lets which  were  caused  by  the  many  silver  fountains  which  came 
bursting  forth  in  sparkling  volumes  from  all  sides  of  the  hill,  and 
tumbled  over  the  stone  steps  in  bright  and  scattered  streams ; 
low  bushes  of  roses,  and  bright-blossomed  plants,  bent  down  and 
bathed  themselves  in  the  border  of  this  pellucid  pool,  and  over 
its  surface  sported  the  many-colored  water  fowl,  which  dipped 
in  the  shining  waves  for  fish,  or  playfully  fluttered  after  each 
other,  shedding  showers  of  silver  from  their  rainbow-tinted  wings 
and  bodies,  as  they  skimmed  hither  ^nd  thither  over  the  bright 
surface. 

By  the  side  of  this  translucent  lake,  upon  the  polished  steps 
which  were  kissed  by  the  waters  at  his  feet,  sat  a  powerful 
figure,  enveloped  in  the  loose  folds  of  a  dark  robe ;  he  was  gaz- 
ing fixedly  into  the  water,  as  if  bent  upon  discovering  something 
therein,  or  in  a  profound  reverie. 

"What  form  is  that?"  inquired  Cortes,  through  the  interpreter, 
of  Montezuma. 

"That,"  replied  the  monarch,  "is  one  who  is  called  Malmiz- 
tic,  a  mysterious  man,  whose  learning  is  past  penetration,  and 
who  maintains,  and  has  done  so  for  years,  like  yourselves,  that 
there  is  but  one  God — a  dangerous  foe,  I  am  led  to  think,  for 
common  fear  seems  a  stranger  to  him ;  and  yet,  so  mild  is  he 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  126 

withal,  that  he  walks  around  the  weakest  worm  which  crawls 
across  his  pathway.     I  will  summon  him  to  attend  us." 

Straightway  the  monarch  dispatched  a  messenger  to  bid  him 
come  to  them.  Malmiztic  was  startled  by  the  step  of  the  person, 
but  in  an  instant  rose  and  approached  them  with  a  respectful  air ; 
he  took  his  high  flat  hat  from  his  large  head,  and  bowed  gravely  to 
the  emperor ;  upon  the  remainder  he  gave  a  transient  glance,  but 
his  eye  rested  upon  Cortes ;  it  was  the  meeting  of  two  high  and 
haughty  spirits ;  some  sign  of  salutation  passed  between  them, 
and  the  looks  of  scrutiny,  which  each  bent  upon  the  other,  were 
fearless  and  penetrating — each  recognized  in  the  other  a  master 
mind. 

The  Toltec  now  accompanied  them  to  examine  the  schools,  the 
armories,  the  halls  of  justice,  the  grounds  for  public  exercises  and 
games,  the  emperor's  vast  workshops,  and  the  places  of  trades- 
men, artificers,  and  jewellers,  a  class  whose  skill  won  the  admi- 
ration of  the  Spaniards,  while  the  rich  material,  upon  which  they 
wrought,  excited  their  cupidity.  They  pursued  their  way  to  the 
emperor's  museum  and  the  collection  of  wild  animals.  While 
they  were  wandering  through  this  immense  pile,  the  companions 
of  Cortes,  as  well  as  himself,  were  struck  with  amazement  at  the 
monstrous  beasts  and  frightful  reptiles  with  which  the  place  was 
filled,  and  stunned  with  the  din  and  confusion  of  sounds  which 
issued  therefrom,  while  their  many  keepers  proceeded  to  provide 
them  with  various  kinds  of  food. 

While  they  were  here,  a  huge  panther  burst  the  wooden  bars 
of  his  cage,  and  bounded  towards  Montezuma ;  the  Christians 
drew  their  swords  and  flew  to  places  of  safety,  but  the  Toltec 
stepped  before  the  monarch,  and  as  he  brought  his  bright  blade 
forth,  he  fixed  his  piercing  eyes  with  a  fiery  intensity  upon  those 
of  the  enraged  animal,  and  the  beast  cowered  away  from  him,  as 
if  struck  with  sudden  blindness,  and  at  last  slunk  into  a  dark 
corner,  where  it  was  captured. 

This  trifling  incident  was  scarcely  considered  by  the  Spaniards, 
save  in  the  way  of  admiration  of  the  physical  courage  of  the 
Toltec  ;  but  to  the  eye  of  the  Aztec  sovereign,  there  was  some- 
thing more  than  mere  physical  control — the  mystic  influence  was 
the  might  of  intellect,  the  sway  of  mind  over  mere  existence.     It 


126  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTKC  ;    AND 

seemed,  so  powerful  an  effect  could  scarce  have  been  the  result 
of  mere  human  agencies  or  the  exercise  of  ordinary  faculties ; 
and  upon  this  the  monarch  mused  as  they  wended  their  course 
towards  the  great  pleasure  palace  of  Montezuma ;  it  was  a  su- 
perb edifice,  elegant  in  its  architecture  and  magnificent  in  its 
design ;  it  was  an  octagon  in  figure,  and  from  each  facing  a  mas- 
sive flight  of  marble  steps  led  from  the  ground  up  to  the  broad 
doorways  ;  notwithstanding  the  stupendous  scale  upon  which  the 
giant  structure  was  built,  everything  seemed  in  harmonious  pro- 
portion. Long  lawns,  dottjed  with  groups  of  native  forest  trees, 
stretched  away  towards  the  lake,  and  throughout  these  grounds 
strayed  herds  of  deer  and  antelope,  quietly  cropping  the  rich 
herbage  of  the  prolific  soil.  Around  the  great  white  building 
itself,  were  gardens,  filled  with  medicinal  plants  and  flowers,  in 
such  profusion  and  endless  variety,  that  Jjie  Spaniards  halted  and 
gazed  in  mute  astonishment  at  the  surpassing  beauty  of  the  scene. 

The  Aztec  emperor  entered  the  edifice,  and  the  party  followed  ; 
luxurious  mats  and  lounges  were  immediately  provided  for  them, 
and  as  soon  as  they  were  in  a  measure  recovered  from  their  exer- 
tion, they  were  conducted  severally  into  elegant  apartments,  with 
walls  of  the  most  beautifully-veined  and  polished  marble  ;  in  the 
centre  of  these  rooms,  bright  waters  flowed  into  solid  basins  of 
snow-white  stone,  from  whence  they  emerged,  after  refreshing 
ablutions,  into  a  reception  room  of  unheard-of  richnesa  in  adorn- 
ment ;  and  in  this  gorgeously-furnished  chamber  were  a  thousand 
female  forms,  radiant  with  beauty  and  decked  in  the  most  inimi- 
tably fascinating  attire  ;  some  were  busy  upon  exquisite  embroide- 
ry ;  others  weaving  the  brightest  forms  and  figures  from  rich 
colored  feathers  ;  some  danced  merrily  after  the  wild  music  of 
the  others,  while  laughter  and  conversation  made  the  apartment 
ring  again.  But  as  soon  as  they  beheld  the  monarch  and  his 
companions,  they  all  rose,  and  saluted  him,  reverently,  with 
charming  grace. 

The  Christians  were  delighted  ;  this  palace  seemed  a  beautiful 
vision  of  enchantment ;  the  place  was  redolent  with  the  odor  of 
a  thousand  fraorrant  flowers,  and  a  numberless  multitude  of  sing:- 
ing  birds,  warbled  forth  an  ever-varying  combination  of  melo- 
dies.    Splendid  specimens  of  statuary  were  scattered  throughout 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  127 

the  rooms,  from  the  snowy  alabaster  to  the  beautiful  red  and 
black  figures  and  vases  of  the  clay  of  Cholula ;  long,  sweepipg 
folds  of  the  finest  drapery-end  curtains  ornamented  the  reed- 
latticed  windows,  or  descended  from  the  walls,  half  shielding  the 
splendid  paintings  which  decorated  all  the  intervals  or  spaces  be- 
tween the  pannels  of  the  various  doors;  upon  the  ceiling  were 
many  fanciful  devices  in  fresco,  wrought  with  great  imagination 
in  design,  and  extraordinary  richness  in  tint ;  but  never  had  the 
eyes  of  the  hardy  adventurers  beheld  a  thousand  such  faces  and 
forms  of  beauty,  as  were  now  before  them  ;  the  tales  of  the  Cru- 
saders, telling  of  the  harem  of  the  Turk,  faded  before  this  host 
of  dark-eyed  damsels,  and  although  the  Circassian  of  the  oriental 
seraglio  might  be  likened  to  the  purity  of  the  snow-crowned  Cau- 
casus in  complexion,  yet  the  dark  and  dreamy  eyes  of  the  Aztec 
maids  became  the  soft  olive  of  their  countenances,  as  fitly  as  do 
the  silver  stars  which  spangle  with  gleams  of  pale  fire  the  soft 
and  shadowy  veil  of  the  dimly-seen  spirit  of  twilight. 

Pre-eminent  among  that  throng  of  bewitching  faces,  was  one 
on  which  Cortes  fixed  his  eyes  with  rapturous  delight ;  and,  at  the 
same  moment,  Alvarado  caught  a  glance  of  the  same  beautiful, 
creature,  and  exclaimed  : 

*'  By  St.  lago  !  I  never  saw,  in  Andalusia,  a  more  seraphic 
being  !  Pardon  me,  noble  captain,"  continued  he  to  Cortes, 
*'  by  your  leave,  I  will  learn  from  this  heathen  king  who  this  fair 
houri  is,  whom  he  has  captured  and  caged  in  this  harem.'* 

"  By  our  lady,"  replied  the  commander,  **  you  have  my  leave, 
and,  I  confess,  I  feel  a  trifle  of  interest  in  the  same  informa- 
tion." 

When  Montezuma  informed  them  that  this  was  his  own  daugh- 
ter, Tecalco,  a  change  came  over  the  countenances  of  several  of 
the  party  at  the  same  instant,  from  diflferent  emotions  ;  and  the 
quick  eye  of  Cortes  caught,  at  a  glance,  a  new  and  surprising 
alteration  in  the  aspect  of  the  Toltec,  but  he  suppressed  his  na- 
tural curiosity,  and  pretended  not  to  have  noticed  it. 

The  Cavaliers  now  advanced  with  the  emperor,  and  were  pre- 
sented to  the  chief  royal  ladies  of  the  realm,  and  Cortes  extend- 
ed his  utmost  courtesy  to  Tecalco,  for,  at  the  sight  of  her  he 
became  wildly  enamored  of  her  beauty,  and  these  civiUties  were 


128  THE    CAVALIERS    UF    THE    CROSS. 

returaed  by  her  with  so  much  natural  ease  and  gracefulness,  that 
Sandoval  swore  by  his  beard,  that  the  most  elegant  lady  of 
Cadiz  could  not  have  been  more  at  home  in  court  etiquette  than 
this  beautiful  daughter  of  the  infidel  king. 

When  Cortes  returned  to  his  quarters  in  the  castle  of  Axajacatl, 
that  night,  his  wife,  in  Cuba,  was  forgotten ;  his  devoted  and 
faithful  interpreter,  Marina,  who  had  followed  him  from  Tobasco 
near  the  coast,  was  forgotten — she,  who  had  become  more  nearly 
attached  to  him  every  day,  who  had  abandoned  home,  friends, 
relatives,  and  all,  to  follow  the  footsteps  of  the  intrepid  stranger, 
whose  banner  of  the  cross  carried  conquest  before  it,  and  whose 
brilliant  sword  was  the  talisman  which  attracted  his  companions 
close  around  him,  and  dazzled  the  countless  hosts  which  opposed 
him,  like  the  lightning's  flashing  glance. 


■'%.. 


^^- 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


While  Montezuma  was  thus  courteously  entertaining  the 
strangers  in  the  great  city,  Guatemozin,  Cacama,  Cuitlahua,  and 
Malmiztic,  were  far  otherwise  engaged ;  they  held  secret  councils 
and  conferences,  where  various  policies  were  discussed,  touching 
the  welfare  of  the  state  ;  and  the  results  of  such  meetings  were  sel- 
dom approbatory  of  Montezuma's  course  of  action  ;  complaints 
were  made  against  this  intrusion,  but  they  were  silent,  and, 
although  suppressed,  the  spark  of  fire  thus  dropped  among  com- 
bustible materials  was  quietly  but  rapidly  spreading  ;  the  murmur 
of  discontent  was  cautiously  carried  through  the  great  mass  who 
assembled  in  the  metropolis  and  its  environs,  but  especially  in  the 
city  of  Tezcuco,  where  the  Spaniards  were  most  obnoxious  to  the 
inhabitants ;  and  these  clamors  increased  daily,  for  the  spirit  of 
revolt  was  being  rapidly  disseminated,  and  its  influence,  if  not 
apparently  exhibited,  was  not  unfelt.  But  within  the  city  of 
Mexico,  around  the  neighborhood  of  the  royal  palace,  no  word  or 
act  of  discontent  was  heard  or  seen — so  true  is  it  that  the  ear  of 
sovereignty  is  the  last  to  catch  the  sound  of  rebellion — and  the 
monarch  does  but  sit  upon  the  pinnacle  of  a  political  mountain, 
and  the  first  indication  which  he  has  of  his  danger,  is  the  moun- 
tain rocking  upon  its  seat,  and  before  he  can  recover  from  his 
surprise,  his  throne  sinks  upon  its  site,  and  his  giant  eflforts  to 
maintain  his  position  as  he  goes  down,  are  the  ineffectual  throes 
of  a  powerful  and  paralyzed  Titan.  Montezuma  lacked  not 
bravery  ;  he  had  led  the  Aztec  arms  on  to  victory  time  and  again. 
Many  were  the  prodigies  upon  the  field  of  fight  which  his  single 
arm  had  achieved ;  but  now,  these  energies,  which  had  formerly 
been  the  spring  to  his  action,  had  become  inert,  and  he  grew  list- 
lessly indifferent ;  nay,  it  seemed  as  if  a  lethargy  had  seized  upon 
his  faculties  and  deprived  him  of  all  spirit   of   resolution  and 

( 129 ) 


130  MALMIZTIO,    THE    TOLTEC ;    AND 

action.  Not  so  with  Cortes  ;  he  had  now  ripened  in  his  own  mind 
a  scheme  whicli,  for  daring,  is  almost  without  parallel,  namely,  to 
seize  the  Aztec  emperor  in  the  heart  of  his  own  territory ! — 
Despair  often  leaps  a  gulf  which  cool  reason  would  shudder  to 
look  upon.  Cortes  now  conceived  retreat  would  be  fatal  in  the 
extreme,  for  various  reasons  :  first,  the  Tlascalan  allies  would 
complain  that  too  much  lenity  had  been  shown  their  ancient  ene- 
my ;  secondly,  his  own  soldiers  would  complain  that  the  fruits  of 
their  incredible  toil  and  hardship  were  within  reach,  and  to  aban- 
don them,  at  such  a  time,  were  to  defeat  the  hope  upon  which 
they  had  lived  ;  lastly,  and  most  strongly,  came  the  probability 
that  if  they  attempted  to  return  to  Vera  Cruz,  Montezuma's  host 
would  surprise  them  on  the  way,  and  when  deprived  of  the  Tlas- 
calans,  the  Christian  camp  must  fall. 

These  doubts  being  weighed  in  the  mind  of  Cortes,  he  resolved 
to  hazard  the  experiment,  and  if  it  failed,  to  fight  his  way  out  as 
he  best  could  ;  accordingly,  within  a  week  after  his  first  entrance 
into  the  capital,  he  gave  a  dinner  to  which  he  invited  the  chief 
officers  to  meet  the  emperor.  Montezuma  came  with  all  confi- 
dence, and  participated  in  the  festivity  with  unsuspecting  free- 
dom. It  was  in  the  palace  of  Axajacatl,  in  its  great  hall,  that 
Cortes  and  his  guests  sat ;  the  feast  was  protracted  to  an  unusual 
length,  and  Cortes,  under  the  pretext  of  retiring  from  the  noise 
of  the  revel,  invited  the  monarch  into  an  adjoining  apartment, 
where  they  might  consult  undisturbed.  Montezuma  entered  and 
the  door  closed,  separating  him  from  his  officers  and  attendants. 
No  sooner  were  Cortes  and  he  alone,  with  the  interpreter,  when 
ifiuch  a  change  came  over  the  countenance  of  the  former  that  the 
emperpr  could  scarcely  repress  his  surprise. 

**3Iontezuma,"  said  the  Spaniard,  "  why  have  you  not  discon- 
tinued those  abominations  in  the  sight  of  heaven,  in  your  tem- 
ples, against  which  I  have  so  repeatedly  spoken?" 

"Because,"  replied  the  king,  "it  becomes  me  not  to  gainsay 
that  which  has  come  to  me  stamped  with  the  seal  of  time  and 
truth ;  it  is  not  fit  that  I  should  grossly  insult  the  wisdom  of 
sages  whose  heads  are  hoary  in  the  service  of  the  gods ;  nor  is 
it  meet  that  I  should  violate  the  will  of  my  faithful  subjects,  by 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  131 

owning  other  gods  than  those  who  have  cherished  our  nation 
since  we  first  planted  our  huts  amid  the  reeds  of  Tezcuco." 

"I  say,"  answered  the  other,  sternly,  "these  things  must  and 
shall  cease  !  Blood  must  cease  to  flow  from  your  tower's  top,  or 
it  must  flow  deeper  in  the  streets.  You,  sir,  have  dealt  doubly 
by  me  ;  at  first,  you  proff'ered  a  willing  ear,  a  conscience  open  to 
conviction,  but  Satan  has  hardened  your  heart  until  now  I  find 
you  ready  to  violate  the  sacred  rites  of  hospitality,  and  turn  the 
wrath  of  your  people  against  my  allies,  the  Tlascalans  ;  already 
the  streets  of  Tezcuco  are  filled  with  rebellious  spirits,  and  armed 
men  are  secreted  in  various  palaces  and  temples,  ready  to  burst 
forth  in  fury  upon  my  comrades,  when  you  shall  give  the  watch- 
word ;  gloomy  sentinels  have  kept  their  spying  eyes  upon  our 
every  movement,  and  covertly  measured  our  strength  and 
resources." 

"Nay,"  said  Montezuma,  "these  are  but  my  guards,  who,  in 
peace  or  in  war,  are  ever  thus  upon  the  watch  ;  it  means  no  more 
than  my  ordinary  guarantee  of  safety." 

"  Thou  Hest,  infidel  !"  said  the  Spaniard,  with  intense  fierceness, 
while  he  rose  before  the  trembling  monarch  with  extended  arm  ; 
"  thou  liest !  thou  hast  a  plot  on  foot  against  me,  and  I  have  fer- 
reted it  out ;  and  now,  mark  me,  thou  treacherous  heathen  !  I 
will  hold  thee  as  surety  for  my  people." 

"  Hold  me  !"  cried  the  emperor,  rising  with  astonishment  and 
indignation,  while  he  bent  his  dark  bright  eyes  upon  the  Chris- 
tian with  incredulous  scorn;  "why,  thou  simple,  pale-faced 
stranger,  you  know  not  my  sacred  character ;  shouldst  thou  at- 
tempt to  detain  the  lord  of  the  wild  west,  such  countless  legions 
would  arise  to  rescue  me,  that  the  valley  of  the  lakes  would  grow 
dark  with  their  numbers ;  from  the  summit  of  Popocatepetl  our 
angered  gods  would  speak  in  thunder  tones  against  the  sacri- 
lege." 

"Ay !"  said  Cortes,  clenching  his  teeth,  "  and  if  a  legion  of 
devils  should  leap  from  its  fiery  mouth,  and  yell  for  thee,  they 
should  not  pluck  thee  from  me  !  Let  thy  legions  come  on,  and 
thy  gods  also,  and  you  shall  behold  them  swept  away,  as  the  fire 
sweeps  the  prairie ;  they  shall  be  but  as  dry  stubble  when  the 
red  blaze  is  fanned  by  the  wings  of  the  wind.     Oh  !  you  proud 


132  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

lord  of  these  western  wilds,  I  will  teach  thee  to  tamper  with  the 
credulity  of  a  Christian  cavalier.  Misbelieving  wretch  !  couldst 
thou  assemble  as  many  warriors  as  there  are  waterfowl  upon 
yon  silver  lake  of  Chalco,  five  hundred  times  their  number  could 
not  save  thee." 

**  Nay,"  cried  Montezuma,  "you  mean  not  to  murder  me.  I 
swear,  by  the  powers  which  rule  heaven  and  earth,  I  have  meant 
thee  no  wrong  since  thou  hast  entered  the  precincts  of  Tenoch- 
titlan." 

"  Dog !"  cried  Cortes,  angrily,  **  dare  not  attempt  to  deceive 
me,  for  I  can  read  the  inmost  thoughts  of  men,  as  if  their  bosoms 
were  transparent." 

"  Then,  as  I  live,  I  mean  to  act  justly  by  thee  ;  I  meditate  no 
injury  to  thee  or  thine,"  said  the  king. 

"Beware,"  said  the  Spaniard,  "of  falsehood,  for,  if  I  find 
thee  guilty  of  duplicity,  thou  shalt  not  live  to  deceive  me  a 
second  time.  Wilt  thou  swear  to  offer  no  violence  to  my  soldiery, 
raise  no  plot  or  intrigues,  urge  no  secret  conspiracies  against  my 
life  or  peace  ?" 

"  Yea,  by  the  sun  and  moon,  by  the  holiness  of  Huitzilo- 
potchtli,  and  the  life-blood  of  my  heart,  I  swear !" 

"Then,"  said  Cortes,  "dismiss  thy  followers — send  it  abroad 
that  thou  wilt  spend  a  certain  time  in  my  quarters." 

"  Nay,"  interposed  the  monarch,  "  that  may  not  be." 

"  Then,  by  Santiago  !"  cried  Cortes,  drawing  his  sword,  "  thou 
goest  not  hence  alive  !" 

"  How,"  answered  the  emperor,  shrinking  back  from  the  bur- 
nished blade,  "  shall  I  not  see  my  people  !" 

"  Truly,"  said  the  other,  "  thou  mayst  see  thy  family,  thy 
household,  thy  servants,  and  thy  officers,  but  not  thine  enemies  ; 
for  they  are  thine  enemies  who  would  instigate  thee  to  attack  our 
Christian  company.  I  mean  thee  well,  barbarian,  though  thou 
hast  not  deserved  it.  Nothing  shall  be  denied  thee  to  maintain 
thy  state  ;  thou  shalt  have  all  which  thou  wast  wont  to  have,  but 
for  my  own  security  upon  thy  action,  thy  dwelling  must  be  in 
this  palace ;  it  was  fitted  for  thy  fathers,  thou  sayest,  and,  there- 
fore, it  is  not  unfit  for  thee.  All  enjoyments  and  liberties  I  will 
give  thee,  but  there  shall  be  eyes  upon  thee  constantly,  and  if 


THE  CAVALIERS  OP  THE  CROSS.  133 

escape  is  attempted,  in  that  hour  thou  diest !  Act  honestly,  and 
thou  shalt  live  ;  but  dishonestly,  and  death  with  thee  shall  be 
inseparable  ;  and  now,  go  with  me  and  dismiss  thy  train,  and  see 
thou  offerest  no  sign  of  discontent,  or,  by  the  Virgin  !  thou  shalt 
repent  it  bitterly.  Let  only  such  remain  with  thee  as  thy  wants 
demand." 

"Well,  be  it  so,"  said  the  emperor,  dropping  his  head,  and 
following  the  haughty  Spaniard  into  the  great  hall,  where  he  ad- 
dressed his  retinue  in  this  manner  : 

"My  faithful  servitors,  saving  such  as  attend  upon  my  person, 
I  now  dispense  with  your  presence.  I  have  chosen  to  spend  a 
short  time  in  this  castle,  and  in  the  company  with  this  noble 
Christian  and  his  comrades.  Commend  them,  therefore,  to  your 
fellow  citizens,  and  see  that  they  lack  nothing  which  is  in  your 
power  to  provide  for  their  comfort  and  welfare." 

The  courtiers  stood  in  silent  amazement  for  a  moment,  and 
then  departed,  wondering  at  this  strange  movement  upon  the  part 
of  their  monarch.  Montezuma  retired  to  the  apartment  pre- 
pared for  him,  and  being  alone,  wept  bitterly. 

Cortes,  upon  cool  reflection,  was  astonished  at  his  own  temeri- 
ty, but  he  felt  that  he  had  undertaken  a  Herculean  labor,  and 
that  it  was  now  too  late  to  shrink  from  the  responsibility  ;  he 
therefore  took  the  rounds  of  his  quarters  and  spoke  with  Alva- 
rado,  De  Olid,  Sandoval,  and  all  the  principal  persons  of  his 
army,  personally  making  each  one  his  special  confidant,  and 
flattering  their  vanities,  by  saying,  to  every  one,  that  upon  their 
judgment  and  support  he  relied  for  his  success.  So  nicely  did  he 
blend  their  importance  with  his  own,  that  scarce  an  individual 
could  be  found  who  did  not  approve  of  his  course  of  conduct,  nor 
was  there  one  in  the  camp  so  bold  as  to  condemn  this  high- 
handed stroke  of  policy,  however  much  it  might  savor  of  a 
breach  of  faith  and  confidence. 

Montezuma  sent  for  Cortes  to  come  to  his  new  apartment,  and 
accordingly  he  went,  taking  with  him  one  or  two  of  his  most  inti- 
mate officers,  beside  Sandoval  and  Alvarado.  The  emperor 
remonstrated  strongly  against  this  violent  course  which  had  been 
pursued  towards  him,  and,  in  fact,  waxed  so  warm,  that  Alva- 
tado  broke  out  impetuously,  and  exclaimed  : 


134  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

**Kill  the  heathen  dog!  By  the  Virgin,  I  will  not  hear  this 
dark  infidel  inveigh  against  our  holy  church  and  her  children  ! 
Has  not  the  villain  laid  plots  for  our  lives,  lined  the  road- 
sides with  swarms  of  savages,  denied  us  his  territory,  and  now, 
boldly  flies  in  our  commander's  face  ?  An  end,  I  say,  to  the 
traitor !"  cried  he,  rising  with  a  fierce  scowl  upon  his  handsome 
face,  and  laying  his  hand  upon  the  jeweled  hilt  of  his  Toledo 
blade. 

The  quick  eye  of  the  emperor  observed  the  speaker  closely, 
and  his  vehement  gestures  told  the  monarch  there  was  danger  in 
the  cavalier's  demeanor ;  he,  therefore,  demanded  of  Marina, 
while  he  shrank  back  from  Alvarado,  the  meaning  of  this  out- 
burst ;  the  beautiful  Indian  girl  interpreted  the  words  of  the 
Spaniard,  with  more  than  their  original  fierceness,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  prayed  the  monarch  to  conform  to  the  wishes  of  the 
Christians.  This  he  consented  to  do,  for  he  seemed  to  be  well 
convinced,  from  the  manner  of  Alvarado's  address,  that  there 
was  no  safety  save  in  submission. 

Once  more  Montezuma  was  alone ;  and  again  he  wept,  wept 
long  and  violently — the  bitter  tears  of  a  despairing  and  dispirited 
heart. 

That  night,  a  soldier  who  guarded  one  of  the  inner  rooms  of 
the  great  palace  of  Axajacatl,  came  quietly  to  Cortes,  and  told 
him  that  he  had  made  a  discovery.  Cortes  left  his  apartment 
and  followed  the  man  into  one  of  the  innermost  chambers  of  the 
vast  building,  and  here  the  soldier  pointed  out  to  him  a  crack  in 
the  wall,  which  revealed  a  room  beyond,  which  was  almost  bid- 
den in  darkness.  Cortes  discovered  a  secret  door,  but  it  was 
fastened,  and  riveted  with  bolts  of  copper,  which  were  green 
with  age  and  mould  ;  he  bade  the  soldier  break  in  the  stone  wall,^ 
which  the  latter  obeyed,  and,  having  procured  torches,  they  en- 
tered the  secret  treasure-house  of  the  Aztec  emperor.  Here,  by 
the  flash  of  the  torches,  was  revealed  the  richest  hoard  that  ever 
mortal  eye  fell  upon ;  huge  masses  and  bars  of  gold,  and  solid 
suns,  wheels  and  ingots  of  the  same  metal  were  piled  up  and 
scattered  around  in  profuse  disorder ;  ponderous  pieces  of  shin- 
ing silver  were  here  and  there  intermixed,  while  the  farther  cor- 
ner from  their  place  of  entrance  presented  a  sight  that  beggars 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  136 

the  stories  of  tlie  wealth  of  the  genii,  or  the  mythological  fable 
of  Midas; -glittering  heaps  of  precious  stones,  of  all  the  hues  of 
the  rainbow,  were  confusedly  garnered  up,  like  harvest  grain  ; 
here  were  opals,  amethysts,  carbuncles,  diamonds,  rubies,  strings 
of  precious  pearls,  and  the  still  more  highly  prized  emeralds, 
whose  green  surfaces  were  pohshed  to  perfection,  with  a  count- 
less array  of  gems,  upon  which  all  the  skill  of  the  Aztec  jewel- 
ers had  been  lavished,  in  carving  heads,  birds,  houses,  flowers, 
and  figures,  of  every  device  which  fancy  could  suggest.  Even 
Cortes,  accustomed  as  he  was  to  school  his  natural  feelings,  could 
not  withhold  his  expression  of  astonishment  and  admiration, 
when  he  beheld  this  mine  of  untold  and  immeasurable  riches. 
He  stood  mute  with  wonder  for  a  time,  gazing  on  the  inexhausti- 
ble treasure  which  flashed  with  dazzling  radiance  from  the  gleam 
of  the  burning  torches ;  at  length  he  whispered  to  the  soldier, 
and  they  retired,  and  Cortes  bade  his  companion  close  up  the 
crevice,  as  before,  and  to  beware  how  he  gave  currency  to  the 
secret  of  this  chamber  to  his  fellow  soldiers. 

Cortes  had  fixed  his  sight  upon  this  world  of  wealth,  and  long 
after  he  had  retired  the  golden  dream  came  gleaming  brightly 
through  his  mind ;  the  golden  devil,  Avarice,  entered  his  heart,  and 
devoured  all  other  feelings  ;  the  fine  traits  of  fellowship  and  sol- 
dier-like bearing  were  merged  ;  the  altar  of  religion  in  his  soul 
was  turned  to  gold ;  even  the  glorious  aim  of  ambition  seemed 
lost  and  forgotten  for  the  time,  and  the  triumph  of  his  cavaliers 
and  the  cross,  his  own  advancement  and  glory,  gave  way  to  the 
vile  and  absorbing  passion  of  gain ;  the  insatiable  desire  of  ac- 
quisition, not  for  an  end,  but  for  itself  alone ;  the  miser's  unna- 
tural love,  which  sets  its  sordid  appetite  to  feed  upon  that  which 
ever  makes  it  hunger  more;  and  from  the  hour  this  passion 
seized  iipon  him,  Cortes  became  a  diff"erent  man,  watchful  and 
ever  suspicious  lest  some  one  should  discover  the  hoard  upon 
which  he  had  set  his  soul,  or  fearing  that  the  soldier  who  had  the 
keeping  of  this  secret,  should  betray  his  trust.  He  pondered  on 
it  deeply  at  night,  and  ere  the  white-robed  angel  of  the  morning 
had  rolled  back  the  curtain  of  the  dawn,  this  yellow  devil,  Ava- 
rice, had  wrinkled  the  broad,  manly  brow  of  Hernando  Cortes 
with  another  furrow. 


CHAPTER  XV 


Montezuma  now  thought  upon  some  means  to  conciliate  the 
stern  knight  who  held  him  in  thraldom  ;  and  after  some  days' 
reflection,  he  concluded  to  give  his  two  favorite  daughters,  Te- 
cuiclipo  and  Tecalco,  to  the  Spaniard,  and  accordingly  presented 
them  with  much  pomp,  in  a  private  manner,  to  Cortes,  in  the 
great  hall  of  the  palace  of  Axajacatl,  in  the  presence  of  the  Chris- 
tian ofl&cers  and  soldiery.  Father  Olmedo  attempted  to  expostulate 
with  Cortes  upon  the  propriety  of  accepting  these  unregenerated 
heathens  into  his  household,  more  especially  as  Cortes  was  a 
married  man,  with  a  wife  then  living  in  Cuba;  but  the  reasons 
of  the  worthy  father  were  not  sufficient  to  dissuade  the  general 
from  his  purpose,  and  as  excuses  are  seldom  found  wanting  to 
extenuate  any  act  which  one  is  resolved  to  perform,  Cortes  plausi- 
bly, but  speciously,  pleaded  the  propriety  of  taking  the  princesses 
into  his  charge,  in  order  to  secure  a  stronger  hold  upon  the  em- 
peror's affection. 

Father  Olmedo  knew  too  well  the  futility  of  opposition  with 
the  spirit  with  whom  he  had  to  deal,  to  remonstrate  long  against 
the  course  of  conduct  which  he  had  already  witnessed  in  the  in- 
tercourse between  Marina  and  the  general,  notwithstanding  he 
had  so  often  threatened  him  with  the  censure  of  the  church. 

Cortes  argued,  that  if  this  was  an  error,  that  the  circumstances 
justified  the  action,  and  that  absolution  would  remove  the  stain 
of  criminality,  more  especially  when  the  ends  to  be  attained  were 
considered. 

Cortes  now  began  to  show  more  leniency  towards  the  sove- 
reign, permitting  him  to  go  abroad  with  him,  to  take  excursions 
upon  the  lakes  in  pursuit  of  wild  fowl,  or  in  the  forests,  where 
large  bodies  of  natives  would  be  sent  out  to  form  a  vast  circle 
enclosing  all  the  animals  and  game  in  a  wide  extent  of  country ; 
(136) 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  137 

this  cordon  would  gradually  contract,  driving  before  them  deer, 
bears,  wolves,  buffaloes,  antelopes,  and  many  fierce  beasts  of 
prey,  among  which  was  often  found  the  ocelot,  a  kind  of  inferior 
tiger,  whose  form  was  usually  emblazoned  on  the  armorial  ban- 
ners, as  the  insignia  of  Aztec  royalty.  Thus,  in  fishing  and  in 
the  chase,  was  the  captive  emperor  permitted  to  make  a  false 
show  of  liberty,  thereby  quieting  the  great  body  of  his  subjects  ; 
but  this  did  not  allay  the  fears  and  suspicions  of  Cacama,  Guate- 
mozin,  Malmiztic,  and  their  friends,  who  now  stirred  up  the  ran- 
cor and  jealousy  of  the  Tezcucans  to  its  highest  pitch,  and 
Cuicuitca,  who  had  been  placed  in  authority  in  that  city,  by 
Cortes  and  Montezuma,  was  forcibly  expelled  and  driven  out. 

No  sooner  had  Cuitlahua  heard  of  Montezuma  giving  Tecalco 
and  Tecuiclipo  to  the  care  and  custody  of  Cortes,  than  his  im- 
petuous nature  was  roused  almost  to  madness ;  he  sought  Mal- 
miztic and  Guatemozin  and  communicated  to  them  his  intention 
of  disregarding  the  commands,  in  future,  either  of  Cortes  or 
Montezuma,  to  which  course  the  others  assented  in  every  point, 
and  accordingly  set  about  making  such  preparation  for  opposition 
as  the  critical  condition  of  the  country  seemed  to  demand. 

At  this  time,  news  suddenly  came  to  the  ears  of  Cortes,  that 
the  garrison  which  had  been  left  upon  the  gulf  coast,  at  Vera 
Cruz,  under  the  command  of  Juan  de  Escalente,  had  been  at- 
tacked, and  that  that  valiant  officer,  as  well  as  a  number  of  his 
troops,  had  fallen.  This  enraged  and  alarmed  the  Spanish  gene- 
ral, as  it  cut  off  the  chief  security  he  had  against  his  own  coun- 
trymen, who  might,  under  the  influence  of  Velasquez,  harass 
him  sorely.  He  instantly  demanded  the  presence  of  Montezuma, 
and  ordered  him  to  account  for  this  treacherous  attack  upon  his 
officers.  Montezuma  denied  it  was  with  his  knowledge  that  the 
crime  was  committed,  whereupon  Cortes,  more  incensed  than 
ever,  com«r»anded  the  emperor  at  once  to  issue  an  order  for  the 
arrest  of  those  persons  who  were  the  chiefs  that  led  the  attack 
against  Escalente.  With  some  hesitation  the  emperor  gave  the 
order,  and,  in  a  few  days,  they  were  brought  captives  to  the  city. 
The  general  held  a  kind  of  mock  trial  over  them,  the  result  of 
which  was  to  condemn  the  whole  of  the  prisoners  to  death !  Ac- 
cordingly, preparations  were  made  in  the  great  public  square  of 
12 


138  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC ;    AND 

the  city,  for  the  execution  of  the  sentence  ;  Cortes  marched  out 
his  forces  in  military  array,  headed  by  Father  Olmedo  and  his 
associate  priests,  escorting  the  slayers  of  Escalente,  who,  with 
their  hands  tied,  were  led  to  a  wooden  pillar  standing  in  the 
open  space  of  the  public  square,  where  they  were  bound,  and 
the  soldiery  piled  around  them  a  huge  heap  of  fagots,  bnish- 
wood,  and  other  combustibles.  The  priests,  in  their  white  robes, 
now  stood  before  them,  and  walked  around  the  funeral  pyre, 
chanting  a  death  dirge  for  the  souls  of  the  heathen,  who  were 
now  to  suffer  the  penalty  of  their  offence.  Cortes,  with  his  proud 
figure  drawn  up  to  his  full  height,  and  his  arms  folded  across  his 
breast,  gazed  upon  the  victims  with  a  fierce,  unflinching  eye,  and 
when  the  religious  rites  and  ceremonies  were  over,  he  calmly 
drew  his  sword  and  pointed  the  brilliant  blade  towards  the  pris- 
oners, as  they  stood  bound  ■  at  the  stake  ;  a  number  of  soldiers 
instantly  stepped  forward,  and  with  torches  touched  flame  to  the 
fagots  ;  the  dry  wood  readily  kindled  into  a  blaze,  and  as  the 
breeze  freshened  the  fires,  the  sticks  cracked  as  the  tongues  of  the 
red  flame  began  to  lick  out,  like  serpents'  forks,  through  the 
dense,  black  volume  of  smoke.  Now  the  strength  of  the  gale 
would  blow  down  the  blaze,  hiit  it  would  arise  with  four-fold 
force,  as  the  blast  was  lulled  or  passed  momentarily  away ;  the 
hot  smoke  began  to  choke  the  captives,  as  could  be  heard  by 
their  coughing,  before  the  fire  had  reached  them,  but  it  was  not 
long  before  the  kindling  fragments  burst  out  in  such  a  blaze  as  to 
reach  their  forms ;  the  prisoners,  who  had  hitherto  uttered  no 
complaint,  at  this  terrific  torture,  gave  a  wild  shriek  of  agnoniz- 
ing  pain  and  despair,  as  the  yellow  and  crimson  waves  of  fire 
were  rolled  up  against  them,  and  flashed  fantastically  and  fear- 
fully over  their  heads ;  that  dreadful  scream  was  their  last,  for 
the  flames  now  entwined  their  bodies  like  writhing  serpents,  and 
in  a  few  moments  they  were  blackened  and  charred  masses,  hav- 
ing scarcely  left  the  face  or  even  the  form  of  human  beings — the 
lazy  volumes  of  black  smoke  rolled  off  in  the  distance,  and  the 
stern  Spaniard,  with  the  martial  band,  returned  to  their  quarters 
in  the  palace  of  Axajacatl. 

From  thence,  Cortes  went  to  his  friends,  and  again  consulted 
them ;   the   result   of   which   communication  was   made  visible 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  139 

shortly  afterwards,  by  his  calling  upon  Montezuma,  and  charging 
him  with  having  treacherously  connived  at  the  death  of  Esca- 
lente.  It  was  in  vain  that  the  monarch  pleaded  and  protested 
that  he  had  done  nothing  in  the  matter,  and  that  due  reparation 
had  been  made  in  the  death  of  the  chiefs,  who  had  been  burned; 
Cortes  would  listen  to  no  explanation,  but  ordered  his  guards  to 
seize  upon  the  emperor  and  load  him  with  chains.  At  this 
attempt,  the  monarch  was  astounded ;  he  was  first  silent,  with 
incredulity ;  and,  in  another  instant,  he  raved  and  stormed,  vow- 
ing the  vengeance  of  his  people  and  his  gods  upon  the  heads  of 
the  insolent  Christian. 

**  Men,  do  your  duty,"  said  Cortes,  in  an  unmistakable  tone 
of  command,  to  his  attendants  ;  and  immediately  they  seized 
upon  the  unfortunate  monarch  and  bound  him  fast  in  chains ! 

When  he  saw  the  fetters  upon  his  limbs,  and  heard  the  clanks 
of  the  iron  links,  all  the  prophesies  of  former  times  came  back 
upon  him ;  the  predictions  of  his  soothsayers,  his  sister's  visions, 
and  the  malediction  of  Malmiztic,  fell  upon  him  like  a  heavy 
load,  beneath  whose  weight  his  soul  staggered,  and  his  body,  all 
powerless,  sank,  as  if  stricken  by  old  age.  His  destiny,  against 
which  hope  had  long  contended  with  fate,  now  seemed  inevitably 
and  irrevocably  fixed ;  despair  suddenly  seized  upon  him,  and 
the  fear  of  death  came  vividly  in  his  eyes,  for  he  now  felt  him- 
self hanging  by  a  hair  above  a  frightful  precipice,  and  Cortes, 
like  one  of  the  fatal  sisters,  standing  ready  to  clip  that  strand. 

Before  a  beautiful  palace,  in  the  city  of  Tezcuco,  was  a  highly 
ornamented  park,  irrigated  by  clear  silver  streams,  which  burst 
forth  from  quaintly  carved  fountains,  and  ran  through  groves  of 
thick-leafed,  flowering  trees,  whose  foliage  darkened  the  daylight 
by  its  profusion,  and  offered  a  cool  retreat  from  the  heat  of  the 
meridian  sun.  In  this  park  were  collected  the  nobles  of  Tez- 
cuco ;  and  in  their  midst,  mounted  on  a  throne,  which  was  erected 
against  a  giant  ceiba  tree,  was  Cacama,  with  his  council.  By  his 
side,  with  a  calm,  dignified  majesty,  sat  Malmiztic ;  below  them, 
upon  seats  arranged  in  an  amphitheatrical  form,  were  thousands 
upon  thousands  of  Tezcucans,  and  people  from  the  neighboring 
towns  and  provinces.     These  immense  masses  were  gathered  to 


1 40  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTKC  ;    AND 

hear  what  Cacama  and  his  counsellors  had  to  say  in  regard  to 
the  course  of  Montezuma. 

Amid  the  multitude  were  irnmense  numbers  of  beautiful 
women,  whose  dark,  bright  eyes  flashed  up  from  among  the 
crowd,  as  the  Toltec  rose  from  his  seat,  with  grace  and  dignity, 
and  drawing  his  dark  robe  around  him,  glanced  over  the  heads 
of  that  vast  assemblage,  with  the  quiet  self-possession  of  one 
accustomed  to  command. 

At  first,  murmurs  were  heard  from  those  whom  the  priesthood 
had  taught  to  abhor  the  worshipper  of  the  unknown  and  invisible 
God ;  but  the  Toltec  spake  not  a  word  until  these  sounds  died 
away ;  and  then,  when  all  was  quiet,  he  began,  in  his  clear,  sono- 
rous voice  to  address  the  audience  ;  every  word  was  distinct,  and 
as  the  magic  of  his  tones  fell  upon  the  ear,  they  vibrated  to  the 
heart  with  an  electric  thrill.  As  he  proceeded  to  depict  the  con- 
dition of  the  country,  his  ardor  became  more  enthusiastic  ;  and 
while  with  one  hand  he  caught  the  ample  folds  of  his  robe  about 
him,  he  seemed,  by  the  easy  gesture  of  the  other,  to  scatter  the 
words  which  fell  like  flowers  from  his  lips,  to  the  multitude 
below,  who  now  caught  them  with  eager  interest. 

As  he  went  onward  with  his  subject,  he  seemed  to  hold  the 
audience  enchanted,  and  wrought  them  up  to  the  highest  degree 
of  all-absorbing  excitement ;  he  seemed  like  a  sun  which  sent 
down  a  bright  beam  into  the  mind  of  each  and  every  hearer ; 
he  grasped  his  theme  with  the  full  power  of  his  giant  intel- 
lect, and  over  the  darkest  doubts  that  intellect  flashed,  and,  in 
an  mstant,  the  gloomy  and  obscure  veil  was  rent,  and  the  light 
of  his  mind  revealed  every  hidden  object,  like  the  red  lines  of 
lightning  which  run  along  a  black  bank  of  storm-clouds ;  and 
then  the  persuasive  tones  of  his  voice  came  forth  as  clear  and  as 
sweet  as  the  music  of  silver  bells,  while  his  manly  and  magnificent 
countenance  seemed  like  the  mirror,  wherein  the  winged  thoughts 
which  he  uttered  were  reflected,  ere  they  flew  away  upon  the 
bosom  of  the  passing  zephyr. 

It  was  a  glorious  sight,  to  behold  men  and  women,  of  all  ranks 
and  ages,  listening  with  the  same  intense  interest,  and  seeming 
all  to  kneel  and  drink  at  once  from  the  great  fountain  of  his 


THJE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  14 

eloquence,  whose  silver  stream  leaped  forth  from  its  hidden  and 
unknown  source,  as  from  a  cave,  and  went  smiling  on  its  way 
with  an  unruffled  current  and  surface  of  sunshine. 

When  his  powerful  and  thrilling  oration  was  concluded,  he 
calmly  took  his  seat,  with  the  same  serene  countenance  with 
which  he  rose ;  but  the  host  sent  up  a  shout  which  shivered  the 
leaves  of  the  huge  ceiba  trees  overhead,  and  shout  after  shout 
rang  forth  as  the  excited  populace  sprang  up,  clapping  their 
hands  and  making  manifestations  of  delight. 

Cacama  was  now  called  for,  loudly.  The  lord  of  Tezcuco 
stood  forth,  clad  in  his  robes  of  state — and  these  were  not  unfit 
habiliments,  for  a  noble  and  lofty  bearing  characterized  Cacama, 
blended  with  a  frank  suavity,  which  won  the  eye  of  the  beholder." 

**  Tezcucans,  Aztecs,  and  friends,"  he  began:  **we  are  called 
together  by  a  common  cause,  in  which  you  are  equally  interest- 
ed, namely,  the  general  welfare  of  the  Aztec  empire.  I  feel, 
and  know,  the  deep  wrong,  which  would  be  wrought  against  our 
nation,  did  I  not  take  upon  me  the  responsibility  of  proclaim- 
ing, that  we  are  badly  governed — did  not  the  voice  of  the  times 
proclaim  it  in  thunder  tones.  That  which  would  ordinarily  be 
treason,  I  now  fearlessly  pronounce,  and  challenge  contradiction. 
Fellow-countrymen,  I  rise  to  deplore  the  condition,  the  lamenta- 
ble condition,  of  the  Aztec  monarchy.  We  have  an  empire,  but 
no  emperor.  Yea,  I  repeat  it,  the  pusillanimity  of  the  king  of 
Mexico,  robs  him  of  his  honors  of  sovereignty ;  and,  though  he 
be  my  lord,  and  nearer  still,  my  uncle,  I  discard  him  from  my 
respect,  as  a  man,  and  hurl  hina  from  a  seat  in  my  heart  as  a 
kinsman  !  Behold  !  by  his  acquiescence,  what  authority  these 
strangers  have  acquired  in  the  centre  of  our  empire  ;  burrowing, 
like  a  worm,  in  the  heart  of  a  blossom,  they  will,  if  permitted  to 
progress,  blast  the  beauties  of  our  mother  country  in  the  full, 
bursting  bud  of  her  glory.  Behold  !  how  far  this  spirit  of  con- 
ciliation and  concession  has  gone  :  first,  it  violates  the  sacredness 
of  our  city  ;  and,  secondly,  it  makes  the  dupe  pay  the  penalty  of 
his  wavering  policy  ;  yea !  it  outrages  the  person  of  your  king, 
by  imprisonment ;  and,  lastly,  loads  him  with  chains,  in  return 
for  his  paltry  submission.  And  how  has  all  this  ended?  by 
hurling  our  gods  to  the  earth,  and  in  their  stead  setting  up  a 


142  MALMIZTie,    THE   TOLTEC ;    AND 

new  deity.  And  what  will  be  the  result  of  such  a  course  ?  I 
will  tell  you,  fellow-countrymen ;  you  will  behold  the  stranger 
dwelling  in  your  homes  ;  your  proudest  temples  made  barracks 
for  their  butchers ;  your  green  fields  blasted,  burnt,  and  black- 
ened ;  your  wives  and  daughters  food  for  their  foul  lusts,  and 
yourselves — a  wretched  wreck  of  what  you  once  were — a  poor, 
homeless  race  of  wanderers;  and  when  a  century  shall  have 
passed  away,  there  shall  be  nothing  left  behind  of  you  but  a  name, 
a  name  that  the  bearer  will  blush  to  hear  mentioned — a  name 
that  will  be  the  jest  and  mockery  of  all  the.  honorable  of  earth. ' 
Gods  !  have  we  no  country  to  strike  for  ?  Will  you  be  quietly 
robbed  of  your  liberty  ? — be  imprisoned  ? — chained  ? — burnt  ? — 
MexitH  forbid!" 

Cacama  now  laid  off  his  crown,  and  holding  a  maquahuitl 
aloft,  in  a  graceful  and  imposing  attitude,  he  said,  with  a  thrilling 
and  determined  voice : 

"  It  is  time  now  to  fight,  for  our  religion,  for  our  country,  for  . 
our  liberty,  and  for  our  honor;  before  the  power  of  these  men 
is  increased  by  reinforcements  from  their  own  country,  or  new 
alliances  in  this." 

At  this  moment,  messengers  arrived  from  Cortes  and  Monte- 
zuma, and  demanded  that  Cacama  should  come  to  Cortes. — 
When  this  news  was  delivered,  Cacama  replied  from  his  rostrum : 

**  Return  you  to  your  master,  and  say  to  him  I  shall  come  ; 
not,  however,  as  he  expects  me,  but  with  my  sword  bared  to 
strike  for  my  country's  cause,  or  perish  for  her  sake !  I  had 
rather  be  the  martyr  that  saved  Tezcuco's  rights,  a  bleeding  and 
torn  corse  in  her  streets,  than  to  be  the  prince  who  sat  in  her 
palace  halls,  and  owned  that  he  held  his  station  there  at  the  price 
of  his  country's  shame.  Men -of  Tezcuco,  and  all  you,  friends, 
who  love  our  common  land,  have  I  your  sanction,  when  I  say, 
I  will  not  sacrifice  the  honor  of  our  nation  and  our  gods?'* 

"Aye  !"  answered  a  legion  of  voices. 

**  Then,  back,'*  said  Cacama,  "  to  your  white-faced  lord 
my  white-hearted  uncle,  and  tell  them  that  yonder  silver 
tains,  of  Chapoltepec,  shall  be  purple  with  blood,  before  a 
Tezcucan  shall  call  himself  a  slave  !" 

Cheer  after  cheer  again  woke  the  welkin,  and  echoed  even  to  the 


d,  andjj 
foun-  I 
single    I 

i 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  14^ 

far  shores  of  lake  Chalco  ;  and  the  deputation,  dumb  with  asto;ri- 
ishment,  left  the  dispersing  multitude,  to  communicate  Cacama's 
answer  to  Cortes  and  his  captive  emperor.  Cuicuitca,  after 
these  events,  resolved  to  court  the  favor  of  the  Christian  and  his 
uncle,  and  accordingly  departed  from  Tezcuco,  but  not  before  he 
had  received  assurances  that  the  friends  of  Montezuma  would 
find  no  favor  and  httle  comfort  in  the  limits  of  the  now  revolted 
city  of  Tezcuco,  who  had,  as  it  were,  drawn  herself  up  in  a  hos- 
tile attitude  towards  the  proud  queen  of  the  Aztec  empire,  who 
frowned  vengeance  upon  her,  from  her  throne  set  high  in  the 
bosom  of  the  bright  blue  lake. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


It  was  the  hour  of  midnight,  and  of  such  a  night  as  is  never 
known  in  northern  lands.  The  curved  shell  of  the  moon  ran 
like  a  silver  boat  through  the  deep  blue  sea  of  heaven  ;  and  the 
night  wind  breathing  soft  as  the  breath  of  an  angel,  came  laden 
with  the  warm,  aromatic  incense  of  flowering  vanilla  vines  and 
ambrosial  cactii. 

Close  under  the  walls  of  the  castle  of  Axajacatl,  the  sentinel 
soldier  of  Cortes  paced  back  and  forth  upon  his  beaten  track ; 
and  through  the  reeds  of  a  latticed  window,  the  gleam  of  a  lamp, 
burning  within,  revealed  the  forms  of  Tecalco  and  the  Spanish 
general ;  the  services  of  Marina,  as  an  interpreter,  had  been  dis- 
pensed with,  for  Cortes  had  discovered  a  jealousy  lurking  in  her 
eye,  which  could  not  be  disguised,  but  which  rather  became  more 
apparent  from  her  effort  to  dissemble,  for  the  excited  eye  of  the 
girl  of  Tobasco  burned  like  a  diamond  in  darkness,  while,  upon 
the  part  of  Tecalco,  the  presence  of  Marina  had  been  the  safe- 
guard to  which  she  had  clung,  to  avoid  the  advances  of  the 
Christian,  whose  designs,  being  evident,  filled  the  delicate  mind 
of  the  Aztec  maid  with  loathing  and  horror.  She  determined  to 
meet  the  emergency  with  such  a  spirit  as  should  convince  her 
base  assailant,  that  the  daughter  of  a  king  had  qualities  which 
comported  with  the  honor  of  an  imperial  ancestry.  They  sat 
near  each  other  upon  a  handsomely  embroidered  lounge  ;  Cortes 
took  the  fair  hand  of  Tecalco  in  his  own,  and  gazed  upon  its  ex- 
quisite mould ;  the  tapering  roundness  of  the  alabaster-like 
fingers,  with  their  rosy-tipped  nails  ;  the  hand  was  passively  per- 
mitted to  remain,  and  Cortes  even  pressed  it  to  his  lips,  without 
any  evidence  of  resistance  on  her  part,  by  which  he  was  so  far 
emboldened,  as  to  offer  to  imprint  the  like  upon  her  lips.  Te- 
calco shuddering  shrunk  away,  and,  dropping  upon  her  knees, 
f  144) 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  146 

"  beside  the  lounge,  she  looked  imploringly  in  his  face,  and  clasp- 
ing both  hands  before  her  bosom,  gazed  steadfastly  upon  his 
countenance,  until  the  brimful  lakes  of  her  lovely  eyes  over- 
flowed, and  gemmed  her  cheeks  with  liquid  jewels ;  there  was 
all  the  guilelessness  of  innocence  in  her  look — a  dove-like  maiden 
modesty,  where  blushes  blent  with  tears,  and  formed  a  picture 
more  powerful  and  touching,  even  in  its  dumb,  unspeaking 
silence,  than  words  could  have  strength  to  portray. 

But  this  silent  prayer  of  beauty  and  innocence  touched  not  the 
inflamed  heart  of  Cortes;  the  unholy  purposes  of  his  bosom 
burned  within  him ;  lawless  appetite  and  demoniac  desire  nulli- 
fied and  dissipated  the  tear  which  sympathy  would  have  drawn 
from  his  heart's  fountain ;  he  stooped  and  clasped  her  waist,  as 
she  knelt  sufi*used  in  tears  and  silent  supplication  at  his  feet.  No 
sooner  did  she  feel  the  pressure  of  his  arm  encircling  her  body, 
than  she  sprang  back  in  the  flash  of  an  eye,  and  drew  her  en- 
chanting form  up  to  its  full  height,  and  threw  back  her  fairy 
head  like  an  angered  basilisk,  while  the  cheek,  which  a  moment 
before  was  crimson  with  the  soft  blushes  of  modesty,  was  now 
white  as  the  pale  bosom  of  the  magnolia;  and  the  eye,  which 
was  melting  with  the  most  touching  tenderness,  now  quivered  in 
its  dark  beauty,  as  she  fixed  it,  with  an  intense  and  piercing 
glance,  full  upon  the  eye  of  Cortes.  It  was  a  look  which  startled 
even  the  stern  general,  accustomed  as  he  was  to  restrain  expres- 
sions of  surprise. 

At  this  moment,  a  rattling  noise  was  heard  at  the  reeds  with 
which  the  window  was  latticed,  and  Tecalco,  giving  a  shriek, 
sprang  towards  it,  and,  by  some  superhuman  power,  seemed  to 
be  lifted  through  to  the  outside,  as  if  upon  wings  ;  but  the  aston- 
ishment of  Cortes  was  only  momentary ;  drawing  his  sword,  he 
leaped  after  her  in  an  instant.  At  that  moment  when  he  had 
reached  the  ground  without  the  window,  a  blow  came  upon  his 
bared  sword  from  an  unseen  hand,  which  shivered  the  blade  and 
almost  paralyzed  his  arm.  Maddened  with  disappointment  and 
pain,  he  sprang  with  naked  hands,  weaponless,  in  the  direction  in 
which  he  had  seen  a  dark,  swift  body  disappear ;  but  catching  no 
second  glance  of  it,  he  bethought  him  to  call  the  guard,  when, 
by  the  flash  of  a  gun  through  the  thick  shrubbery  of  the  garden, 
13 


146  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

he  beheld  the  sentinel  falling  before  the  blade  of  Malmiztic,  with 
whom  he  had  been  struggling,  and  Tecalco  darting  away  like  a 
bird  through  the  shadows  of  night.  The  sound  of  the  gun 
brought,  of  a  sudden,  half  the  camp  around  the  spot,  where  they 
beheld  Cortes  supporting  the  sentinel's  head. 

*'  Fly,  fly  !"  cried  he,  **a  thousand  ducats  for  the  head  of  the 
villain  Malmiztic  !" 

"Whither  did  he  fly?"  inquired  Sandoval. 

**  There,  to  the  left,  amid  the  rose  trees,  where  the  vines  are 
thickest !" 

**  Have  at  him  !"  cried  Sandoval,  leaping  ofi"  in  pursuit. 

** About  the  garden  wall,  men ;  quick  there  without  !'*  ex- 
claimed Alvarado. 

"Let  us  meet  them  to  the  right,"  shouted  De  Olid,  as  he 
bounded  away  in  a  different  direction. 

**  Diaz,  give  me  thy  sword,"  said  Cortes,  as  that  good  old  sol- 
dier came  up  and  took  the  wounded  sentinel,  and  handed  his 
heavy  falchion  to  his  commander. 

**Now,  scoundrel,  infidel,"  continued  Cortes,  muttering  to 
himself,  as  he  grasped  the  sword  with  an  iron  gripe,  **  let  us  see 
if  thou  canst  shiver  this  arm  again,  like  the  touch  of  a  torpedo," 
and  away  he  plunged  into  the  thicket,  which  was  now  lighted  up 
in  all  directions,  by  the  torches  of  the  soldiers,  who  were  busy, 
in  every  quarter,  upon  the  search. 

Long  did  they  toil,  but  fruitlessly.  At  length,  conceiving  that 
the  fugitives  would  make  an  eff'ort  to  escape  from  the  city,  Cortes 
ordered  his  men  to  scour  the  lake  shores,  and  the  canals  towards 
Tepejacac  and  Tacuba,  while  he,  'with  a  small  party,  would  look 
towards  Iztapalapan. 

As  they  went,  Botello,  a  pretended  astrologer  in  the  camp, 
came  and  informed  the  general,  that  it  had  been  revealed  to  him, 
by  the  stars,  that  the  Tezcucan,  Cacama,  was  now  in  his  palace 
by  'the  side  of  lake  Chalco. 

**  Thy  ears  upon  this  now,  stargazer !"  cried  Cortes;  "come, 
and  if  thou  deceivest  me,  I  do  not  read  my  stars  aright  if  thy 
back  be  free  from  stripes,  for  I  now  search,  with  all  means  and 
haste,  the  bold  infidel,  Malmiztic,  who  hath  escaped  with  my 
ward,  the  emperor's  daughter." 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  147 

**  Then,  as  there  is  truth  in  the  stars,  that  was  he  who  passed 
yon  point  of  land,  almost  but  now,  and*  made  across  the  lake  with 
such  spirit-like  speed — and,  by  the  witch  of  the  moon  !  there  he 
goes  now,"  continued  he,,pointing  his  finger;  **  Canst  thou  not 
discern  him  ?  see,  where  his  boat,  almost  out  of  sight,  passes 
over  the  lake  like  a  shadow." 

**]S'ay,  I^see  nothing,"  answered  Cortes,  shielding  his  eyes 
with  his  hand,  from  the  moon. 

**  Yea,  there  he  goes  !"  replied  Botello,  *'  with  a  long  white  or 
silvery  stream  upon  the  water  in  his  wake ;  it  flashes  in  the  moon- 
shine like  a  comet  on  the  wave.  Now,  a  comet,  whose  tail  points 
to  the  north,  portends  disasters  and  wars ;  and  a  comet,  whose 
tail  points  to  the  south" — 

"The  devil  and  St.  Anthony  ride  away  with  you  on  a  comet's 
tail  1"  exclaimed  Cortes,  petulantly  ;  "  show  me  the  boat  of  that 
dark  infidel." 

**  Here,  then,  come  close  to  me,"  said  the  pseudo-astrologer, 
**  see  you  not,  under  the  dark  shadow  of  yon  distant  mountain, 
where  it  meets  the  line  of  the  moonlight  upon  the  lake;  a  black 
boat,  which  darts  swiftly  along,  and  makes  the  ruffled  waters  rise 
up  from  their  bed  of  darkness,  and  shimmer  in  the  blaze  of  the 
moon — which  moon  will  be  nine  days  old  in  an  hour  hence  ?" 

**  Go  to,  with  this  trash  of  stars  and  of  moon  !"  said  Cortes, 
hurriedly  ;  "I  seek  not  heavenly  bodies — it  is  the  devil's  minions 
that  I  am  in  pursuit  of.  I  know  not  when  rain  will  come, 
but  catch  me  that  night-eyed  Toltec,  and  I  can  tell  thee  when 
there  will  be  fire  !  To  the  boats  now,  and  away,  without  loss  of 
time,  to  the  palace  by  the  lake  side,"  cried  Cortes,  to  his  men 
who  followed. 

In  a  short  time,  the  soldiers  were  making  their  way,  with  all 
possible  speed,  across  towards  lake  Chalco  ;  and  all  the  way  Bo- 
tello gave  assurances  that  the  aspect  of  the  stars  was  most  favor- 
able for  their  purposes,  to  which  Cortes,  suffering  from  the  painful 
shock  his  arm  had  received,  would  answer,  by  assuring  the  reader 
of  the  stars,  that  something  would  go  wrong  in  his  horoscope  if 
neither  Malmiztic  nor  Cacama  were  foijnd. 

At  length,  they  approached  the  spot  of  their  destination  ;  it 
was  a  scene  of  surpassing  beauty  ;  rising  out  of  the  very  bosom 


148  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC ;    AND 

of  the  lake,  whose  clear,  deep  waters  washed  its  massive  walls, 
was  a  palace  of  gigantic  dimensions,  with  every  proportion,  so 
symmetrical  in  its  outline  and  detail,  that  as  Cortes  and  his  crew 
stole  silently  upon  it,  under  the  protecting  shade  of  the  banks  of 
the  lake,  they  could  but  feel  as  if  they  were  approaching  a  castle 
of  the  genii.  Everything  was  hushed ;  it  was  the  depth  of  night, 
and  the  solemn  black  walls  lifted  themselves  up  before  the  boat's 
crew  in  sublime  grandeur  ;  and  the  huge  shadow  upon  the  lake 
seemed  like  another  submarine  palace  of  vast  proportions  loom- 
ing up  out  of  the  hidden  deep. 

The  boats  were  quietly  moored  under  the  shade  of  bending 
trees,  which  fringed  the  shore,  and  the  soldiers  stepped  upon 
land  with  an  orderly  but  stealthy  tread. 

Cortes  commanded  them,  in  a  whisper,  to  encircle  the  castle 
completely,  and  gradually  close  in,  so  as  to  prevent  the  escape 
of  any  who  might  be  within  the  walls  of  the  palace. 

It  was  the  hour  of  the  night's  deepest  silence ;  the  moonlight 
rested  upon  everything  like  a  spell ;  and  not  a  murmur  could  be 
heard,  save  now  and  then  the  strange,  wild  notes  of  a  mocking- 
bird breaking  forth  beautifully  from  the  leafy  darkness  of  a 
thickly-tangled  bower,  where  creeping  vines,  laden  with  bloom, 
distilled  through  the  night  air  a  ravishing  and  powerful  perfume. 

They  cautiously  advanced,  in  a  circle,  towards  the  dark  gigan- 
tic pile  ;  but  when  they  came  upon  it,  no  warder  guarded  the 
gate — no  sentinel  was  posted  at  the  portal — all  was  quiet — the 
unbroken  slumber  of  nature.  And  now,  more  than  ever,  did  it 
seem  to  them  like  the  huge,  black  home  of  some  old  enchanter. 

Cortes  himself  led  the  way  into  the  great  hall,  through  a  high 
arched  doorway,  guarded  upon  each  side  by  two  monstrous  idols, 
who  stood  like  spectres,  with  their  stony  eyes  fixed  and  dull,  but 
seemingly  bent  upon  the  passer-by.  The  glare  of  the  lamps  and 
lanterns,  which  the  soldiers  bore,  shed  a  strange  light  around, 
and  the  echoes  of  their  footsteps  upon  the  smooth  marble  floor, 
despite  every  precaution,  rang  hollowly  along  its  deep  vault  over- 
head. They  entered  chamber  after  chamber,  but  no  being  was 
found.  After  having  traversed  the  whole  suite  of  rooms  below, 
Cortes  came  upon  a  broad  flight  of  stairs,  which  led  up  to  a  great 
height  to  a  second  story  ;  here,  they  opened  the  doors  of  a  superb 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF    THE  CROSS.  149 

saloon,  where  all  the  signs  of  late  festivities  were  visible  ;  me- 
nials were  lying  upon  mats  on  the  floor ;  and  upon  beautifully- 
embroidered  lounges,  were  several  figures  in  elegant  robes ;  and 
in  one  of  these  Cortes  recognized  the  manly  form  and  face  of 
Cacama. 

Cortes  now  whispered  to  his  soldiery,  and  each  crept  up.  with 
his  drawn  sword,  in  front  of  one  of  the  sleepers.  Cortes  had 
advanced  to  take  Cacama  in  person,  when  his  eye  fell  upon  the 
heavy  and  powerful  frame  of  a  man  in  a  black  mantle,  whose 
quick  ear,  catching  the  sound  of  a  whisper,  had  started  up  on 
his  elbow  from  his  couch,  and  brushed  his  black  locks  from  his 
still  darker  eyes,  as  he  bent  them  with  astonishment  upon  Cortes 
and  his  companions. 

" 'Tis  he!"  shouted  the  general;  "seize  him!  a  thousand 
ducats  for  him,  dead  or  alive  !  a  cross  of  St.  lago  and  a  cap- 
taincy to  the  captor !  The  infidel,  Malmiztic !  upon  him,  upon 
him !" 

Half  the  soldiers  in  the  hall  rushed,  in  an  instant,  towards  the 
couch,  but  the  Toltec  sprang  away  with  a  tremendous  bound, 
and  leaped  towards  a  secret  side-door,  and  was  rushing  out,  when 
Cortes  cried  : 

"Fire!  fire  upon  him!  shoot  as  he  flies!'*  In  a  moment, 
muskets  flashed,  and  balls  shivered  the  panels  and  wainscoats 
where  the  Toltec  had  passed. 

"Pursue  him!"  cried  Cortes,  "let  him  not  escape;  follow 
close  upon  him ;  press  hard.  For  the  love  of  God  and  the  Vir- 
gin, let  him  not  pass  free !  Haste,  haste  !"  he  shouted,  hurrying 
on  after  those  who  pressed  hard  upon  the  heels  of  Malmiztic. 

The  Toltec  had  now  gained  a  small  interior  room  of  great 
beauty,  and  furnished  in  the  most  gorgeous  and  luxurious  style ; 
he  darted  to  a  couch  curtained  with  feather  work,  and  tearing 
the  drapery  away,  he  seized,  with  a  sudden  and  violent  grasp, 
the  form  of  a  female,  and  twirling  her  around  like  an  infant, 
threw  her  across  his  broad  shoulders,  and  ran  into  another 
apartment.  A  soldier  following,  raised  his  gun  to  fire  upon  the 
flying  form,  when  Cortes  struck  the  weapon  down,  and  cried  : 

"  Hold  !  who  harms  the  woman  yonder  villain  bears  ofi^,  dies  ! 
Seize  him  alive  !     There  is  no  exit  here,  he  cannot  escape ;  close 


150  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

the  doors,  and  let  him  not  pass,  save  over  your  dead  bodies.  Ha, 
ha  !  we  have  him  now — there  is  no  outlet  for  the  dog — this  room 
has  but  one  door.  Ho,  there,  thou  giant  infidel,  yield  thee  !  thou 
bronzed-faced  heathen,  hear  ye  not  ?  Ay,  'tis  useless  to  draw 
that  dazzling  blade,  it  can  avail  thee  naught,  for  we  have  num- 
bers for  thee.  But  I  waste  my  words — the  dog  knows  not  the 
language  of  Castile — close  on  him  men." 

The  Toltec  had  ceased  his  flight,  but  had  not  dropped  his  bur- 
then ;  and  as  the  Christians  moved  slowly  up,  he  moved  towards 
a  window,  which  overlooked,  at  a  vast  height,  the  deep  waters 
of  the  lake,  which  far  below  lay  quietly  against  the  castle  walls. 
Malmiztic  turned  his  eyes,  first  upon  the  black  flood  beneath, 
dark  with  the  shadow  of  the  palace,  and  then  upon  his  pursuers, 
who  were  now  nearing  him  every  movement.  Again  he  sur- 
veyed the  dizzy  distance,  which  made  the  head  swim  with  giddi- 
ness to  gaze  upon ;  and  again  he  fixed  his  black  and  burning 
eyes  upon  Cortes,  who  cried  : 

"Seize  him!" 

*'  Ha,  ha,  ha  !"  a  hollow  laugh  resounded,  which  was  the  only 
reply  which  Cortes  caught  from  the  Toltec,  as  the  latter  leaped 
out  of  the  window  with  his  charge,  and  went  whirling  down 
through  the  darkness  into  the  deep.  The  night  air  echoed  back 
against  the  castle  wall  the  sound  of  a  body  plunging  in  the  wave, 
and,  as  quick  as  thought,  the  soldiers  were  at  the  window  point- 
ino-  their  muskets  down  towards  the  dark  bosom  of  the  lake. 

o 

**Hold!"  cried  Cortes,  "fire  not  upon  them;  i-ush  down  the 
stairway  and  seize  him  as  he  comes  ashore — away,  lose  not  an 
instant ;  he  is  swifter  than  the  flight  of  an  arrow,  and  slippery  as 
Proteus.  Seize  upon  Cacama,  and  secure  his  minions,"  said  he 
to  Botello,  as  he  passed  down  the  palace  hall  in  haste,  and  hur- 
ried to  the  lake  side  in  search  of  the  Toltec,  where  his  men  were 
already  vainly  searching. 

The  black  shadow  of  the  castle  wall  lay  moveless  upon  the 
surface  of  the  lake,  and  the  soft  ripples  beat  gently  against  its 
solid  stone  foundation.  They  sought  all  along  the  base  of  the 
wall,  and  by  the  lake  shore,  and  scanned  the  waters  in  all  direc- 
tions, but  the  Toltec  and  Tecalco  were  nowhere  visible. 

But  the  result  of  the  expedition  was  by  no  means  fruitless,  for 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  151 

Botello,  with  a  few  others,  had  taken  the  precaution  to  secure 
Cacama  and  his  companions,  and  with  these  they  returned  across 
the  lake  to  the  city.  Cortes,  however,  was  in  no  gentle  mood, 
for  the  escape  of  Malmiztic  and  the  princess  had  more  than  over- 
balanced the  gratification  of  capturing  Cacama ;  but  this  disap- 
pointment did  not  reach  its  climax  until  he  had  arrived  at  the 
castle  of  Axajacatl,  by  which  time  the  grey  streaks  of  the  dawn 
had  melted  away  into  a  vast  sea  of  light,  where  waves  of  silver 
were  crested  with  a  rosy  fringe. 

Cortes  commanded  Cacama  to  be  loaded  with  chains,  and 
secured  within  a  secret  dungeon  of  the  castle  ;  and  having  se«n 
that  this  order  was  strictly  complied  with,  he  came  forth,  when 
he  was  informed,  that  during  the  confusion  which  had  occurred 
in  the  night,  Tecuiclipo  had  escaped,  as  well  as  Tecalco.  At  this 
news,  Cortes  was  furious ;  he  raved  and  stamped  his  iron  heel 
upon  the  stone  pavement,  while  his  countenance  became  dark 
with  the  volume  of  blood  which  rushed  to  his  face. 

"I  see  it  all,"  said  he  to  himself,  **this  is  the  work  of  Guate- 
mozin,  and  he  shall  pay  the  penalty,  or  I  grossly  err.  By  my 
conscience  !  it  were  a  pretty  piece  of  folly  to  permit  such  inso- 
lence to  go  unpunished.  See,"  said  he,  turning  to  an  officer, 
**  that  search  be  made  for  the  princess,  in  every  direction,  and  to 
him  that  shall  produce,  in  my  camp,  the  head  of  Guatemozin,  or 
Malmiztic,  the  Toltec,  I  will  give  half  their  weight  in  gold.  Go, 
and  bring  the  infidel,  Montezuma,  to  me,  and  then  dispatch  to 
execute  my  command." 

The  officer  soon  returned  with  Montezuma,  wearing  chains ; 
with  Cortes  and  Marina,  he  visited  the  cell  where  Cacama  was 
confined.  The  captive  was  lying  upon  the  cold  stone  floor  when 
they  entered,  his  fine  head  drooping  gloomily  upon  his  breast  ; 
but  the  moment  his  eye  caught  a  glance  of  Montezuma,  he 
startled  up  to  his  full  height,  and,  without  noticing  Cortes,  he 
bent  his  intelligent  gaze  upon  his  uncle,  and  with  a  voice  trem- 
bling with  agitation  and  irony,  he  said : 

*'  I  am  glad  to  see  you  here,  for  I  have  learned  that  I  am  in- 
debted to  Montezuma  for  my^presence  in  this  prison-house.  A 
faithful  servant  has  told  me,  that  you  informed  the  Christian 
astrologer  where  I  could  be  found.     You,  my  uncle  !  you,  whom 


1 62  MALMIZTIC,   THE    TOLTKO  ;    AND 

I  have  sought  to  save,  whose  kingdom  I  was  ready  to  risk  my 
life  to  preserve,  and  whose  person  I  would  have  held  as  sacred 
as  the  heart  of  Huitzilopotchtli ;  I,  who  would  have  set  you  free, 
struck  those  degrading  shackles  from  your  arms,  and  placed 
within  your  hands  the  maquahuitl,  which  would  have  laid  this 
stern  stranger's  warriors  in  the  dust.  Oh,  gods  !  was  it  for  such 
a  man  as  this  that  I  periled  everything — my  people,  my  country, 
my  liberty,  my  life  ?  For  a  man,  who  could  basely  betray  his 
own  blood  ?  for  a  heart,  whose  black  ingratitude  turns  to  gall  the 
sweet  current  of  kindred  blood  ? 

**  Oh,  Tezcuco  !  city  of  my  fathers,  how  art  thou  sunken  from 
thy  wonted  greatness  !  Would  Nezahualpilli  have  yielded  thee 
without  a  struggle  ?  Nay,  he  would  rather  have  strewed  the 
lake  shore,  for  miles,  with  countless  corses,  and  left  his  own  pur- 
ple blood  to  blend  with  Tezcuco's  blue  waters,  than  to  shame- 
lessly have  yielded,  without  a  struggle,  the  honorable  heritage 
of  his  ancestry. 

"Oh,  Tezcuco!  three  years  have  I  sat  upon  thy  throne,  and 
five  and  twenty  summers  have  fled  since  thou  gavest  me  birth ; 
but  my  brothers  Coanaca  and  Ixtliloxchitl  have  deserted  me, 
and  Cuicuitca,  my  half-brother  in  blood,  and  less  than  half  in 
feeling,  has  turned  traitor,  and  sold  his  country  and  his  brother 
into  the  hands  of  the  stranger. 

"  Montezuma !  may  the  god,  who  sits  in  the  land  of  shadows, 
blot  out  of  your  book  of  memory  this  indelible  crime;  may 
your  conscience  forgive  you — what  your  country  never  can.  But 
I,  whom  you  have  so  cruelly  betrayed,  pity  and  pardon  the 
craven  spirit  which  made  you,  through  fear  of  these  bloody 
Spaniards,  cause  me  to  be  seized,  when  I  was  defending  your 
rights  and  your  crown — when  you  yourself  shrank  back  from 
your  duty  in  supporting  and  maintaining  them. 

"Yes,  Montezuma,  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  for  I  wish  you  to  see 
how  a  man  can  die,  who  dies  for  his  country,  his  king,  and  his 
gods.  I  have  done  all  that  I  could,  to  save  you,  and,  behold, 
my  reward  is  death  !  Then,  welcome  death,  welcome,  thou  thin 
shadowy  messenger,  who  beckonest  me  across  the  mysterious 
river,  to  the  land  where  my  forefathers  dwell  in  the  bright  man- 
sions of  the  sun ! 


] 


THE    CAVALIEKS    OF    THE    CROSS.  163 

"Montezuma,  as  they  bore  me  captive  hither,  in  the  grey 
light  of  the  morning,  through  the  valley  where  the  fog  was  a 
thousand  fathoms  deep,  far  in  the  distance  over  the  burnished 
sea  of  mist,  I  saw  the  silver  shaft  of  Popocatepetl,  and  upon  its 
sky-wrapped  pinnacle,  blazing  like  a  hundred  suns,  I  saw  the 
face  of  Huitziiopotchtli,  and  its  radiant  beams  seemed  to  set  the 
mountain  all  on  fire!  —  forests,  rocks,  and  all!  And  then,  I 
heard  a  small  voice  in  the  air  which  seemed  to  speak  from  afar, 
and  yet  its  tones  would  have  deafened  the  thunder  god,  and  it 
cried : 

*'*Woe  to  the  Aztec  crown!  her  last  king  liveth ;  but  night 
and  darkness  shall  sit  in  his  seat ;  the  usurper's  hand  shall  scat- 
ter the  jewels  of  her  diadem,  and  the  gold  of  her  glory  shall  be 
as  sands  buried  in  the  beH  of  a  running  river;  the  bat  shall 
brood  in  her  banquet  hall,  and  he  who  hath  deserted  his  country 
and  his  gods,  henceforth  must  dwell  with  demons,  in  darkness — 
in  the  realm  of  smoke,  whose  only  outlet  is  the  fiery  mouth  of 
Popocatepetl  !' 

**The  light  was  gone  ;  I  heard  the  voice  no  more  ;  the  wavy 
sea  of  gold  lay  stretched  out  for  leagues — and  all  was  still  as 
death. 

"1  am  glad  to  have  seen  thee,  Montezuma,  for  I  did  wish  to 
tell  thee  this  before  I  died.  Perchance,  thou'lt  say  it  was  a 
dream,  a  vision  of  the  brain  ?  Go,  ask  my  old  minstrel,  when  I 
am  gone — he  saw  the  scene.  And  now,  farewell !  Let  death 
come  when  it  may,  Tezcuco  shall  never  blush  for  what  Cacama 
did." 

With  this,  the  young  king  relapsed  into  a  state  of  gloom ;  and 
even  the  iron  heart  of  Cortes  could  scarce  keep  from  overflowing, 
as  the  high-souled  patriotism  of  Cacama  reproached  the  tamer 
policy  of  his  uncle  ;  nevertheless,  he  departed  with  the  emperor 
and  Marina,  and  left  the  faithful  and  heroic  Tezcucan  king  to 
waste  his  spirits  in  chains  and  darkness. 

Cortes  now  proceeded  to  Tezcuco,  where,  in  the  name  of  Mon- 
tezuma, he  proclaimed  Cuicuitca  king,  and  persuaded  all  the 
nobles  and  officers  of  state  to  acknowledge  him  ;  and,  accord- 
ingly, he  was  received  with  acclamations  and  triumphal  arches. 

Immediately  after  this,  Cortes  took  in  perfidious  captivity  the 


154  MALMIZTIC,  THE    TOLTEC,    ETC. 

king  of  Tlacopan,  and  the  lord  of  Tlatelolco,  and  also  the  lord  of 
Cojohuacan,  who  was  a  brother  of  Montezuma;  and,  to  crown 
all,  he  seized  upon  Cuitlahua,  prince  of  Iztapalapan,  and  com- 
pelled the  whole  of  them  to  acknowledge  fealty  to  the  Spanish 
crown ! 

Such  was  the  beginning  of  the  European  feudal  system  in  the 
western  world. 


I 


CHAPTEK   XVII 


The  anxiety  of  the  public  throughout  Tenochtitlan  was  now 
intense,  and  the  nobility,  in  a  body,  had  demanded  of  Cortes  the 
privilege  of  communicating  with  their  king  upon  the  state  of  the 
country,  and  the  power  by  which  this  demand  was  backed,  ren- 
dered refusal  most  unsafe,  and  it  was,  therefore,  granted.  The 
result  of  the  consultation  was  to  arouse  the  spirit  of  Montezuma, 
and,  when  he  returned,  he  not  only  demanded  his  release,  but 
peremptorily  insisted  that  Cortes  should  immediately  evacuate 
the  country,  and  withdraw  his  Tlascalan  allies  from  the  city. 
Cortes  offered,  as  an  excuse,  a  lack  of  ships  to  transport  his 
troops  back  again  to  Cuba.  To  this,  Montezuma  replied,  that  he 
would  agree  to  build  and  provide  them  for  him  forthwith.  Cortes 
tacitly  consented  to  this  proposition,  not  however  with  the  design 
of  complying  with  it,  but  for  the  purpose  of  gaining  time.  But 
this  promise  gave  only  a  temporary  satisfaction  or  quietude,  for> 
daily,  the  murmurs  grew  more  and  more  loud,  until  Montezuma 
again  called  for  another  audience  with  the  Spanish  general,  and 
set  forth  the  demands  of  the  people  for  his  retiring  from  the 
Aztec  territory,  and  the  certain  rebellion  of  the  people,  if  the 
Spaniards  determined  to  remain  and  keep  a  body  of  hostile  Tlas- 
calans  encamped  in  the  centre  of  the  city. 

While  in  the  midst  of  this  interview,  Cortes  received  informa- 
tion from  Sandoval,  whom  he  had  stationed  at  Vera  Cruz,  after 
the  death  of  Escalente,  that  eighteen  ships  and  thirteen  hundred 
men  had  arrived  upon  the  coast,  under  the  command  of  one 
Narvaez  (he,  who  was  to  have  had  the  command  of  the  ships  in 
which  Cortes  originally  came),  with  twelve  pieces  of  artillery  and 
eighty-five  horses.  When  this  news  was  broken  to  Cortes,  in  the 
presence  of  Montezuma,  it  was  accompanied  by  a  proclamation 
branding  the  Spanish  general  as  a  rebel  and  a  traitor  !     But  the 

(155) 


166  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC ;    AND 

coolness  of  Cortes  did  not  forsake  him  ;  he  betrayed  not  a  single 
emotion,  and  Montezuma's  utmost  scrutiny  could  not  detect  the 
shadow  of  that  embarrassment  with  which  a  common  soul  would 
have  been  confounded  ;  but  Cortes  assured  the  emperor  that  they 
were  friends,  and  as  a  proof  thereof,  he  informed  him,  that  he  in- 
tended to  set  out  immediately  to  meet  them. 

Cortes  now  saw  danger  thicken  around  him  upon  every  hand ; 
but  it  was  only  an  emergency  like  the  present,  which  could  call 
forth  his  active  genius.  He,  therefore,  left  Alvarado,  with  one 
hundred  and  forty  Christians,  and  the  Tlascalan  allies,  to  hold 
possession  of  the  capital,  and  he  proceeded,  with  seventy  choice 
cavaliers  of  the  cross,  and  some  Mexican  nobility,  to  the  city  of 
Tlascala,  where  he  called  upon  the  senate  and  demanded  four 
thousand  warriors,  which  were  granted  ;  and  next,  he  passed 
over  to  Chinantla,  and  made  a  similar  requisition  for  two  thou- 
sand men,  and  three  hundred  pikes,  which  being  obtained,  he 
proceeded  to  Cholula ;  from  thence  he  descended  towards  the 
coast,  with  a  rapidity  almost  unparalleled  in  the  annals  of 
marches.  In  the  route,  he  met  Sandoval,  coming  up  from  Vera 
Cruz  with  sixty  men,  among  whom  were  two  who  had  been  sent 
to  Villa  Rica,  by  Narvaez,  to  demand  a  surrender,  but  upon 
whom  Sandoval  had  seized  and  detained — not  much,  however, 
against  their  wishes,  for  Pamphilo  Narvaez  was,  despite  his  tall, 
commanding  figure,  and  fine  face,  a  narrow-souled  miser,  of 
whose  service  and  meanness  they  were  heartily  tired. 

Cortes,  therefore,  changed  the  course  of  Sandoval  and  his 
party,  and  hurried  down  from  the  mountains  and  table-lands,  into 
the  terra  calienta,  with  its  burning  air  and  gigantic  foresl;  trees, 
its  profusion  and  luxuriance  of  vegetation. 

Cortes,  before  his  departure  from  the  city,  had  dispatched 
Father  Olmedo  and  Velasquez  de  Leon  to  ISTarvaez,  with  a  com- 
mission to  make  an  amicable  arrangement  of  the  affairs  of  both 
parties.  After  the  embassy  had  arrived  and  held  a  conference 
with  Narvaez,  the  latter  permitted  them  to  depart  in  peace,  but 
sent  out  a  party  to  waylay  and  recapture  them.  This  band  were 
stationed  in  the  forest,  and  as  the  holy  father  and  his  companion 
came  riding  quietly  along,  they  sprang  suddenly  out  upon  them ; 
but  Velasquez,  seeing  the  plot  which  was  laid  for  them,  gave  whip 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF   THE    CROSS.  167 

and  spur  to  his  swift  mare,  and  shouting  to  his  more  fleshy  compan- 
ion, the  worthy  Olmedo,  he  darted  by  the  enemy,  followed  im- 
mediately by  the  rev.erend  prelate,  who  dropped,  for  a  time,  the 
ease  and  gravity  of  the  priest,  and  put  on  the  activity  of  a  knight- 
errant.  The  pursuit  was  kept  up  at  no  tardy  pace,  for  as  they 
darted  away  through  the  forest,  the  rocks,  the  ravines,  and  the 
open  plains,  if  they  turned  their  heads  but  for  a  moment,  they 
could  behold  their  pursuers  hard  upon  them.  Away  they  sped, 
Velasquez  sitting  in  his  saddle  as  bolt  upright  and  firm  as  a  man 
of  steel,  save  when  he  would  bow  his  head,  as  he  passed  rapidly 
under  the  branches  of  a  tree,  or  glanced  back  momentarily  to 
catch  a  glimpse  of  the  fierce  party  who  followed  at  his  heels. 

Father  Olmedo  was  not  so  well  mounted,  but  to  make  amends, 
he  plied,  from  time  to  time,  his  stout  stafi"  upon  the  back  and 
hams  of  his  beast,  and  leaned  a  great  way  forward,  as  if  anxious 
to  be  in  advance  of  his  horse,  and  prudently  exposing  as  little  of 
his  person  as  possible  to  the  chance  shots  of  the  enemy.  It  was 
a  chase  of  no  common  character — men  were  the  game  of  one 
party,  and  life  of  the  other — and  the  latter,  having  the  greater 
stake,  made  every  effort  and  strained  every  nerve  to  increase  the 
distance  between  themselves  and  those  who  followed.  This  they 
at  length  accomplished,  by  a  turn  in  the  mountains,  where  by  a 
maneuvre  of  riding  up  for  some  considerable  way  in  the  bed  of 
a  running  stream  which  sometimes  was  so  steep  as  to  form  a  tor- 
rent, they  left  the  enemy  lost,  by  not  being  able  to  discover  the 
tracks  of  their  steeds.  At  length  darkness  came  on,  and  under 
its  friendly  cover  they  quietly  pursued  their  way  in  safety,  but 
with  a  very  slow  and  heavy  pace,  for  the  poor  animals  were 
sorely  jaded  by  this  flight  for  hours  over  plain  and  mountain 
forest,  and  flood. 

The  next  day,  they  came  upon  the  troops  led  by  Cortes,  who 
were  coming  down  through  the  country  by  rapid  marches,  and 
joining  with  them,  they  turned  once  again  towards  Narvaez. 
The  streams  were  found  to  be  full,  as  they  urged  their  way  on- 
ward through  the  rich  valley,  where  rank  and  luxuriant  forest 
trees  sheltered  them  from  the  intense  heat  of  the  sun. 

As  they  neared  the  spot  where  they  kijew  Narvaez  to  be  en- 
camped, which  was  hard  by  Chempoalla,  the  face  of  the  country 


168  MALMIZTIC,    THE   TOLTEC  ;   AND 

changed,  and  they  found  fine  fertile  meadows,  rich  with  thick 
grass,  upon  which  green  nourishment  the  horses,  in  their  halts, 
grazed  plentifully. 

Narvaez  had  fortified  himself  in  an  ancient,  ruined  city,  in  a  lofty 
temple  built  of  large  blocks  of  stone,  which,  however,  had  become 
somewhat  dilapidated.  This  giant  structure  was  surrounded  by 
a  circle  of  similar  temples,  tilled  with  their  idols,  but  more 
diminutive  in  size  than  the  chief  temple,  in  and  around  which  he 
had  planted  his  cannon,  for  defence,  with  order  and  regularity. 

Cortes  lay,  with  his  men  hidden  in  the  fertile  meadows  on  the 
river  banks,  not  distant  more  than  a  mile  from  the  heathen  tem- 
ples, wherein  Narvaez  was  quartered.  Cortes  now  addressed 
his  men  with  one  of  those  warm,  enthusiastic  speeches  which 
lighted  up  the  latent  fires  in  every  bosom,  and  made  them  burn 
to  follow  their  intrepid  and  invincible  commander. 

As  the  night  came,  he  advanced,  having  given  Sandoval  orders 
to  attack  the  quarters  of  Narvaez  himself,  in  the  ancient  temple, 
and  directed  Captain  Pizarro,  a  young  soldier,  whose  name  after- 
wards became  famous  in  Peru,  to  seize  the  guns. 

As  darkness  had  fallen,  they  quietly  closed  in  upon  the  camp 
of  Narvaez ;  as  they  were  advancing  through  the  gloom,  they 
came  upon  an  outpost,  where  two  sentinels  were  stationed,  one 
of  whom  they  captured,  but  the  other,  escaping  by  his  extraor- 
dinary activity,  gave  the  alarm  to  the  camp. 

Before  these  events  occurred,  showers  had  been  falling  fre- 
quently during  the  night,  and  in  the  intervals,  the  moon's  great 
white  face  would  look  forth  from  the  black  towering  clouds,  like  the 
visage  of  a  giant  genius,  gazing  through  his  dark  castle's  window. 

The  sentinel  had  given  the  alarm,  and  instantly  the  whole  camp 
was  in  commotion  ;  the  men  were  placed  in  a  position  of  defence, 
and  everything  was  prepared  for  resistance,  with  a  promptitude 
which  spoke  well  for  the  discipline  of  Narvaez. 

.  Cortes  now  pushed  on  the  attack,  and  the  whole  face  of  the 
heavens  darkened,  at  this  moment,  and  the  rain  fell  heavily ;  but 
still  he  pressed  close  upon  the  spot  where  he  could  discover  the 
dim  outline  of  the  huge,  old  temple,  and  its  satelHtes,  vaguely 
shadowed  forth  against  the  inky  sky. 

The  attack  now  began,  and  the  soldiery  of  Narvaez,  having 


f 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  169 

discovered  themselves  to  Cortes  and  his  company,  by  their 
torches,  became  shining  marks,  upon  whom  Cortes  commanded 
his  men  to  open  their  fire ;  and,  in  a  moment  more,  the  deep 
silence  of  the  night  was  broken  by  the  thunder  of  guns,  and  the 
red  flashes  glared  through  the  deep  darkness,  like  meteors  stream- 
ing through  the  gloom. 

As  they  rushed  upon  the  quarters  of  the  enemy,  among  the 
ruined  temples,  again  the  volleys  from  Cortes  and  his  comrades 
rang  upon  the  midnight  air;  and,  at  this  moment,  a  singular 
phenomenon  occurred,  which  wrought  Cortes  a  greater  part  of 
the  battle  :  for,  as  his  soldiery  kept  up  their  fire  steadily,  certain 
insects,  in  the  shape  of  flying  beetles,  with  a  kind  of  phosphoric 
light,  rose  from  the  damp  earth,  or  the  wet  leaves  of  the  neigh- 
boring forests,  and  gave  a  momentary  blaze,  which  went  out  again 
instantaneously ;  multitudes  of  large  fire-flies,  aroused  by  the 
moisture,  flashed  around  in  the  darkness,  so  that,  amid  the  roar 
of  guns,  Narvaez  looked  forth,  and  fancied  that  the  quarters  and 
the  woods  around  were  alive  with  enemies,  and  that  the  gleams 
of  fire,  in  all  directions,  were  lighted  matches  and  the  flames  of 
musketry ;  but,  nevertheless,  he  fought  with  desperation,  and 
shouted  encouragement  to  his  men,  until  forced,  by  the  others 
as  they  rushed  on,  to  retreat  into  the  temple. 

Every  foot  and  inch  was  contended  for  by  the  parties,  as  they 
fought  together  in  the  obscure  gloom  of  the  moonless  night. 
The  clang  of  swords  rang  through  the  echoing  halls  of  the  old 
ruins,  as  Cortes  and  his  confederates  mounted  the  great  stairway 
of  stone,  which  led  in  a  broad  flight  up  to  the  temple,  in  which 
Narvaez  was  posted ;  and  as  they  rushed  upward,  they  shouted, 
with  wild  enthusiasm,  the  martial  cry  of  "  Spirituo  Santo !  Spirituo 
Santo!"  which  thrilling  sounds  were  met,  in  mid  air,  by  the 
counter  cry  of  "  Santa  Maria  !  Santa  Maria  !" 

And  now,  the  clang  of  arms  was  terrible,  as  the  hosts,  with 
gleaming  torches,  ran  through  the  giant  halls  of  this  temple  of 
idolatry  ;  swords  rang  loud  upon  shields,  and  lances  would  strike 
heavily  upon  breastplate  or  helmet ;  while  in  the  courts  without, 
the  roar  of  musketry  was  unceasing,  and  the  twang  of  cross- 
bows could  be  heard,  as  the  opponents  discovered  each  other 
through  the  shadows  of  the  night. 


160  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC ;    AND 

Within  the  rooms  of  the  giant  ruin,  blows  Avere  dealt  hand  to 
hand,  and  shouts  and  cheers  made  the  hollow  halls  resound  again. 
The  fight  grew  more  and  more  fierce  ;  amid  the  confusion  Cortes 
at  length  commanded  the  long,  loose  leaves  of  aloe  and  palm, 
with  which  some  of  the  outer  buildings  were  thatched,  to  be 
fired.  No  sooner  were  the  torches  touched  to  the  overhanging 
eaves,  than  despite  the  dampness,  the  whole  of  the  roofs  burst 
forth  in  a  red  blaze  ;  and,  at  that  instant,  Cortes  sprang  onward, 
and  cried,  "  Spirituo  Santo  !  Spirituo  Santo  !"  and  it  was  echoed 
in  a  breath  by  a  hundred  followers. 

*'A  thousand  ducats,"  cried  he,  "  for  Narvaez  !"  and  away 
they  darted  through  the  windings  of  the  old  temples. 

In  a  moment  more,  Sandoval  could  be  seen,  by  the  reflection 
of  the  burning  buildings,  hot  in  pursuit  of  a  tall,  flying  figure, 
which  was  attempting  to  escape  from  him  and  his  companion, 
Pizarro,  and  to  take  shelter  behind  the  dark  and  intricate  stone- 
work of  the  heathen  idol's  sanctuary.  Sandoval  hastily  pressed 
upon  him,  when  the  figure  turned  face  about,  by  a  marble  pillar, 
almost  hid  in  the  obscurity  of  the  gloomy  altar,  and  dealt  a  blow 
at  Sandoval,  as  he  hurried  by ;  but  the  weapon  missed  him  in 
the  darkness,  as  well  as  Pizarro,  who  followed  after  Sandoval  into 
another  recess  of  the  temple,  which  opened  beyond,  as  might  be 
seen  by  the  stream  of  light  which  shone  through  the  old  stone 
window  at  the  extremity,  from  the  buildings  which  were  now 
burning  opposite,  and  sending  up  a  crimson  glare  to  mingle  with 
the  black  gloom  of  midnight. 

The  figure  which  Sandoval  had  seen,  was  Narvaez  himself, 
who  now  attempted  to  escape  from  his  hiding-place,  by  running 
towards  the  outer  court,  when,  hearing  footsteps  coming  so  fast 
upon  the  solid  stone  floor,  Sandoval  stopped,  and  cried  : 

"  Halt !  hold  !  who  passes  ?" 

No  answer  being  given,  he  dealt  a  blow  in  the  dark,  and  a 
death-like  shriek  was  heard,  and,  in  an  instant,  a  soldier  named 
Farfan,  running  in  an  opposite  direction,  with  a  flaming  torch 
in  one  hand,  and  a  sword  in  the  other,  met  the  flying  form  of 
Narvaez,  who,  reeling  and  staggering,  exclaimed  : 

"Santa  Maria!  thev  have  killed  me  —  they  have  struck  out 
one  of  ray  eyes  !'* 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  161 

Farfan  gave  a  glance  into  his  white  face,  and  beheld  the  brow 
of  Narvaez  laid  wide  open  with  a  fearful  gash,  and  the  piteous 
cry  of  the  wounded  captain  too  true — his  eye  was  cut  out,  and  a 
crimson  stream  coursed  down  over  his  sandy  beard.  Farfan 
instantly  seized  upon  him,  and  bore  him  away  to  Cortes,  who 
had,  by  this  time,  entirely  routed  the  enemy,  and  compelled  them 
to  cry  for  quarter — for  fifteen  of  their  number  lay  dead  upon  the 
marble  floor,  and  many  wounded  were  groaning  upon  every  hand. 

Thus  came  into  the  hands  of  the  conquering  Cortes,  the  whole 
army  of  Pamphilo  de  Narvaez,  as  well  as  himself,  whom  Velas- 
quez had  dispatched  to  seize  Cortes,  under  the  order  of  Bishop 
of  Burgos,  while  the  emperor,  Charles  V,  of  Spain,  was  absent 
in  Flanders. 


14 


CHAPTER  XVIII 


While  Cortes  was  now  master  of  two  thousand  men,  and  a 
hundred  horses,  upon  the  coast,  Alvarado,  with  his  men  and 
allies,  held  possession  of  the  capital. 

It  was  the  season  of  sacrifice,  and  the  priests,  in  conformity 
with  their  duty,  made  the  usual  preparation  for  the  performance 
of  these  rites. 

The  first  festival  which  occurred,  was  the  grand  feast  of  flow- 
ers, a  ceremony  in  which  Malmiztic  was  the  high  officer  and 
director,  by  usage,  although  the  priests  were  much  opposed  to  his 
authority,  for  under  his  command,  all  human  sacrifice  was 
restricted. 

The  morning's  first  faint  streaks  came  over  the  purple  east, 
with  bright  bars  of  gold,  behind  which,  as  in  heaven's  armory, 
a  thousand  lances  of  light  were  ||tanding  up  on  the  eastern  moun- 
tain tops,  and  resting  against  the  blue  walls  of  the  skies.  As  the 
dawn  opened,  it  revealed  an  enchanting  picture,  for  all  along  the 
valley  could  be  seen,  for  miles,  multitudes  of  female  figures  in 
the  grey  glimpses  of  the  morning,  wending  their  way,  with  a 
burthen  of  flowers,  towards  the  rich  city  of  the  Aztecs.  They 
could  be  descried,  in  all  directions,  with  their  snowy  dresses 
gathered  gracefully  around  them,  and  their  baskets  of  bright 
blossoms,  in  hand  or  on  head,  hurrying  to  join  the  throng  who 
were  already  astir  in  and  around  the  grounds  of  the  great  tem- 
ple ;  and  as  morning  advanced,  the  gathering  multitude  became 
immense  in  numbers,  and  the  myriad  of  flowers  which  were  col- 
lected filled  the  whole  atmosphere  with  a  delicious  combination 
of  exquisite  odors,  which  were  wafted  gently  around  the  tem- 
ple grounds,  by  the  first  breath  of  the  breeze,  as  it  awakened, 
fresh  and  joyous,  with  the  earhest  glance  of  the  golden  sun  upon 
the  sleeping  lake. 
(162) 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  163 

It  was  the  merry  month  of  May — the  month  that  in  every 
land  hath  a  certain  degree  of  beauty — but  here,  in  the  sweet  vale 
of  Mexico,  it  wore  a  hue  of  gorgeous  splendor.  The  wild  woods, 
in  every  direction,  were  living  beds  of  flowers ;  and  especially 
did  the  bright  valley  around  Xochimilco  (the  field  of  flowers) 
blush  with  its  million  painted  children  of  the  sun,  for  plain  and 
prairie,  meadow  and  dale,  mountain  and  moor,  were  now  carpeted 
with  a  sheet  of  iris-hued  bloom,  which  rolled  down  and  rose  in 
soft  swells,  like  the  waves  of  Tezcuco  in  a  brilliant  sunset,  to  the 
gentle  gales  that  swept  this  Elysian  valley. 

As  the  multitude  came  swarming  in  from  the  surrounding 
country,  they  found  many  of  the  streets  decorated  with  long 
boughs,  which,  over-arching  the  highway,  formed  one  continuous 
bower,  festooned  with  wreaths  of  blushing  buds  of  every  shade 
or  dye. 

When  the  stream  of  human  beings,  which  poured  into  the  city, 
had  somewhat  diminished  in  volume,  and  scattered  itself  through- 
out the  mighty  metropolis,  the  grand  master  of  ceremonies  began 
to  collect  the  masses  into  a  body,  and  forming  them  in  an  im- 
mense line,  of  a  width  nearly  sufficient  to  fill  the  street,  they 
began  to  move  forward  under  the  guidance  of  proper  marshals, 
who  were  distinguished  by  white  staves,  surmounted  by  scarlet 
crests  of  long  and  graceful  feathers.  While  they  marched  on- 
ward, sweet  pipes  played  merry  measures,  and  clear  horns  and 
clarions  sent  forth  a  cheerful  blast,  and,  here  and  there,  an  atabal 
or  trumpet  would  bray  a  consonant  harmony  to  the  hundred 
voices  of  the  minor  music  ;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  an  occa- 
sional drum  gave  its  dissonant  beat,  which  marred  the  music  of 
the  less  discordant  instruments. 

The  high  priest  led  the  way  in  his  scarlet  robes,  with  his 
long  plaited  hair  hanging  behind  him,  and  almost  reaching  the 
earth.  Immediately  after  him  followed  the  host  of  other  priests 
clothed  in  habiliments  resembling  monkish  gowns  ;  and  of  these 
black-dressed  agents  of  idolatry  there  were  many  hundreds. — 
Succeeding  close,  came  the  virgins  of  the  temple,  in  garments  of 
spotless  purity,  and  many  a  dark  and  beautiful  eye  flashed  from 
beneath  a  shroud-like  robe  of  snow.  As  these  passed  on,  the 
grand  master  of  ceremonies  next  appeared — the  mighty  Malmiztic ; 


164  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

he  wore,  as  usual,  a  loose  mantle  of  sable,  which  fell  around 
him  in  easy,  ample  folds  ;  upon  his  neck  was  a  cape  or  collar  of 
brilliants,  which  descended  to  a  point  upon  his  breast,  glittering 
with  superb  and  flashing  jewels ;  over  these  his  raven  beard  fell 
in  a  mass,  like  a  shining  clue  of  silk ;  upon  his  head  was  his 
high,  two-sided  hat,  like  a  bishop's  mitre,  of  deep  crimson  ;  and 
from  underneath  its  rim  of  gold,  his  black  locks  escaped  in  heavy, 
waving  rolls  upon  his  neck.  As  he  moved  forward  there  was  a 
reverend  majesty  in  his  mien,  and  a  calm  dignity  and  beauty  in 
his  countenance,  which  thrilled  the  beholder  with  its  god-like 
power,  while  it  seemed  to  beam  forth  gentleness  and  goodness  in 
every  glance,  notwithstanding  the  unsmiling  gravity  of  the  Toltec 
philosopher. 

Immediately  in  the  rear  of  Malmiztic,  came  the  professors  of 
the  colleges  and  schools  ;  next,  those  learned  in  the  law,  and  the 
officers  of  government,  with  the  men  of  science,  and  the  mathe- 
maticians ;  and  then,  the  great  body  of  the  astrologers  and 
soothsayers ;  after  these  followed  the  ranks  of  nobility,  arrayed 
in  the  most  superb  and  brilliant  costume,  and  decorated  with  an 
infinite  profusion  of  elegantly -wrought  and  costly  jewelry.  Over 
the  palanquins,  in  which  they  were  borne,  upon  the  shoulders  of 
their  menials,  were  canopies  of  starry  flowers,  interwoven  with 
much  skill  and  beauty.  Behind  these,  came  the  youths  and 
maidens  of  the  schools,  bearing  in  their  hands  exquisite  wreaths 
and  bunches  of  the  brightest  blossoms,  and  ever  and  anonscatter- 
ing  the  loose  leaves  of  flowers  upon  the  wayside  as  they  passed. 

This  immense  host,  with  their  appropriate  banners  flying  and 
music  playing,  moved  through  all  the  chief  streets  of  the  great 
capital,  while,  upon  every  hand,  as  they  passed,  showers  of  roses 
rained  from  the  house-tops  and  windows  upon  their  heads.  Long 
garlands  were  chained  across  the  thoroughfares,  as  they  would 
enter  streets  which  were  completely  embowered,  and  made  into 
long  halls,  by  banded  boughs  of  trees,  interlaced  with  leaves  and 
kloom,  which  gave  so  dense  and  deep  a  shade  as  to  render  the 
passage  dark  at  noontide. 

Thus  they  marched  on,  followed  by  an  iiinumerable  host  of 
citizens,  and  peasants  from  the  neighboring  provinces,  traversing 
all  the  great  highways  of  the  city,  and  greeted  in  all  quarters  by 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  WB 

smiling  faces  and  the  leaves  of  a  thousand  loose  blossoms.  And 
thus  they  progressed,  until  they  reached  the  farthest  point  of  the 
island  towards  Iztapalapan,  when,  as  the  sun  had  begun  to  de- 
cline upon  his  western  slope,  they  turned  their  footsteps  back, 
and  marched  towards  the  grounds  of  the  great  temple,  from 
whence  they  had  issued  forth  in  the  morning ;  and  as  the  pro- 
cession approached  the  huge  structure,  and  the  great  space 
enclosed  within  its  giant  wall,  the  vast  multitude,  at  the  command 
of  Malmiztic,  burst  forth  in  a  triumphal  hymn  : 

FESTIVAL  OF  FLOWERS. 

Let  the  might  of  song  arise 

"With  its  wondrous  powers  ; 
Let  the  paean  reach  the  skies 

For  the  Feast  of  Flowers. 
Tlaloc's*  azure  wings  have  swept 

O'er  Tezcuco's  waters : 
Night's  wild  fairies  watch  have  kept 

O'er  earth's  blooming  daughters. 

Orizaba's  brow  of  snow 

In  the  sunlight  glitters  ; 
O'er  the  level  lake  below 

The  skimming  swallow  twitters  ; 
Round  the  mountains  blue,  for  miles. 

Bloom  a  thousand  howers, 
On  Chalco's  blushing  margin  smiles 

A  waving  world  of  flowers. 

All  the  earth  is  glad  and  gay, 
Coatlicuet  flinging, 

Rainbow  blossoms  o'er  her  way 
As  she  passeth  singing ; 

Birds  salute  her  as  she  flies. 
Where  the  ceiba  towers, 

With  their  hymns  our  own  shall  rise- 
Hail  thee,  Queen  of  Flowers ! 

Life  is  but  a  mystic  stream 

From  youth's  flowery  fountain  ; 
Winding  through  a  land  of  dream. 

Lost  in  death's  dark  mountain; 

*  Tlaloc,  god  of  the  water.  "  * 

t  Coatlicue,  the  Aztec  Flora. 


166  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEO ;    AND 

Then  strew  tlie  roses  on  the  waves. 

While  gliding  down  life's  river. 
Ere  we  shall  sweep  into  the  caves 

Where  darkness  dwelleth  ever. 

Then,  chaplets  weave  for  beauty's  brow. 

For  valor,  garlands  glowing — 
And  to  our  God's  high  altar  bow. 

The  meed  of  song  bestowing ; 
And  as  the  clouds  of  incense  rise, 

So  shall  our  joyous  voices, 
'Till  all  the  earth,  the  air,  and  skies. 

With  one  wild  chant  rejoices  I 

When  the  procession  was  all  assembled  in  the  immense  space 
enclosed  by  the  great  wall  of  the  temple,  which  was  paved  with 
polished  blocks  of  beautiful  stone,  the  musicians  were  disposed 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  heard  in  all  parts  of  the  place,  by 
being  stationed  around  upon  stands,  erected  against  the  inner 
side  of  the  wall,  which  wall  was  quaintly  sculptured,  and  over 
its  parapet  ran  immense  serpents  of  stone. 

The  procession  now  formed  itself  in  order  for  the  grand 
national  dance,  in  which  the  whole  body,  who  were  there  col- 
lected, entered  with  great  good  will.  Lines,  crosses,  and  squares 
were  formed  within  the  great  circle,  which  now  stood  ready  for 
sports,  upon  the  polished  pavement. 

The  wand  of  Malmiztic  was  hfted  aloft,  as  he  stood  within 
view  of  all  upon  the  walls,  and  as  the  white  rod  which  he  held  in 
his  hand  fell  upon  the  black  skirt  of  his  flowing  dress,  the  full 
burst  of  this  whole  body  of  musical  instruments  pealed  forth 
their  most  thrilling  and  joyous  strain.  Instantaneously  the  en- 
tire host  moved  on  in  the  rapid  and  merry  mazes  of  the  dance  ; 
infinite  were  the  forms  and  figures  into  which  they  threw  them- 
selves, and  intricate  windings  and  convolutions  were  performed 
with  such  ease  as  plainly  proved  the  people  to  be  perfectly 
familiar  with  this  delightful  pastime. 

Circles  were  formed  of  flowers  laid  in  great  wi*eaths  upon  the 
smooth  flags,  and  within  these,  gay  groups  trod  delightful  mea- 
sures. A  never-ending  variety  pervaded  their  movements,  form- 
ing one  vast  group  of  graceful  and  diverse  action,  throughout  the 
whole  of  which  the  most  perfect  order  was  preserved ;  and  one 


THK    CAVAUJCRS    OF    THE   CR088.  167 

general  sense  of  exhilaration  infused  itself  into  every  heart  of 
the  host,  who  for  hours  lir  M  tluir  happy  dance  in  the  area  of  the 
great  temple. 

At  length,  Malmiztic  and  Uuateraozin  led  Tecuiclipo  into  the 
centre  of  the  court-yard,  where  there  was  a  throne  erected,  cov- 
ered with  a  myriad  of  many-colored  honeysuckles,  which  were 
entwined  around  it,  and  made  the  place  redolent  with  rich  odors. 
Upon  this  throne  the  princess  was  seated.  She  was  arrayed  in  a 
light,  gauze-like  garment  of  pure  white,  with  bright  blue  bands 
and  borders ;  upon  her  classically-moulded  neck  a  chain  of  bril- 
liants wa.H  clasped,  which  was  the  only  ornament  she  wore,  saving 
a  single  white  rose,  which  was  set  in  the  midst  of  her  raven  ring- 
lets, which  disported  in  long  waves  upon  her  fair,  round 
shoulders. 

Over  her  head  was  a  canopy  of  cloth  of  gold  studded  with 
silver  stars,  and  four  attendant  females  waved  before  her  broad 
fans  of  feathers  of  brilUant  and  beautiful  dyes. 

The  whole  a.ssembjy  went  through  the  ceremony  of  laying, 
one  after  another,  a  flower  at  the  foot  of  the  throne ;  and  then 
began  an  endless  variety  of  games  and  athletic  exercises,  such 
as  running,  wrestling,  and  gymnastic  movements  upon  poles, 
ladders,  and  bars,  and  perilous  feats,  such  as  standing  upon  the 
top  of  a  mast  of  great  height,  with  only  sufficient  room  for  the 
soles  of  the  feet,  while  from  such  tree  or  mast,  four  or  a  greater 
number  of  ropes  would  be  suspended,  upon  which  the  performers 
would  seize,  and,  by  making  a  run  in  rapid  circles  upon  the 
earth,  would  move  a  wheel-  at  the  top,  which  would  send  them 
flying  through  the  air,  at  the  ends  of  the  cords  with  an  astonish- 
ing celerity. 

Some  were  engaged  in  feats  of  muscular  strength,  as  lifting  or 
leaping,  while  a  countless  host  of  jugglers  exhibited  their  various 
skill  in  legerdemain  ;  and  before  the  princess  and  the  parties  who 
surrounded  her,  a  number  of  buflfoons,  in  grotesque  attire,  called 
forth,  from  time  to  time,  by  their  capers  and  conversation,  loud 
outbursts  of  laughter  and  general  merriment ;  many  mounte- 
banks were  disguised  like  monkeys,  and  gravely  would  ape 
the  scholars,  the  judges,  and  even  the  nobility ;  and  facetious 


168  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

harangues  would  be  delivered  to  an  imaginary  king,  wherein  the 
severest  satires  upon  government  and  the  like,  would  be  pro- 
nounced, clothed  in  the  most  comical  conceits  and  laughable 
language  ;  necromancers  would  point  out,  in  the  dark,  polished 
faces  of  pieces  of  itzli,  events  which  they  foretold  that  time 
would  reveal  to  the  gaping  and  wondering  crowds  who  stood 
around  them. 

Thus  the  hours  of  the  evening  were  coming  on,  when  the  mas- 
ter of  ceremonies  announced  that  the  feast  stood  in  readiness  for 
the  guests,  within  the  cells,  of  which  there  were  hundreds  in  the 
great  wall  which  enclosed  the  broad  temple  grounds.  Immedi- 
ately upon  this,  a  general  movement  was  observable,  and  in  a 
few  moments  the  multitude  were  busy  in  satisfying  their  well- 
sharpened  appetites,  by  an  abundance  of  various  food,  such  as 
meats  of  animals,  both  wild  and  domestic,  fish,  fresh  from  the 
salt-tide  of  Tezcuco,  or  the  clear  sweet  waters  of  Chalco,  wild  fowl 
and  birds,  of  every  description,  together  with  deer,  bears,  and  all 
character  of  forest  game — furnishing,  upon  the  whole,  a  repast 
savory  and  satisfactory  to  the  thousand  common  people,  artisans, 
laborers,  and  peasants,  who  partook  of  this  feast  at  the  public 
expense ;  but  the  higher  orders  and  nobility  did  not  participate 
in  this  meal,  there  being  a  feast  in  reserve  for  them  in  one  of  the  ^ 
great  palaces  in  another  quarter  of  the  city. 

When  the  repast  was  concluded,  the  whole  body  of  the  priest- 
hood came  forth  in  their  robes,  with  flaming  torches  in  their 
hands,  and  mounting  the  great  stairway  of  the  temple,  marched 
to  its  broad,  flat  top,  around  which  were  sitting  an  immense  num- 
ber of  beautiful  vases  of  stone  and  Cholulan  ware,  filled  with 
fragrant  flowers,  aromatic  gums  and  spices,  which,  with  dry 
fagots  of  odorous  wood,  burned  with  a  dehcious  incense,  as  the 
priests  touched  their  torches  to  them — while,  once  more,  a  trium- 
phal chorus  arose,  as  the  yellow  and  blue  fires  blazed  forth  upon 
the  evening  air. 

At  this  moment,  Alvarado  and  his  companions  came  galloping 
into  the  court-yard  of  the  temple,  with  their  proud  horses  decked 
out  in  their  gayest  caparisons,  and  their  steel  corselets  shining  in 
the  sun. 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  169 

**I  command  these  ceremonies  to  cease!"  cried  he,  to  his 
interpreter,  who  immediately  translated  his  words  to  the  master 
of  ceremonies. 

"Who  is  he  Vfh4>  dares  to  command  here  ?'*  replied  Malmiz- 
tic.  "  Upon  what  pretext  and  to  what  purpose  comes  this  pre- 
sumptuous mandate  ?" 

"A  commander  of  the  cross  of  Christ!"  hotly  answered  Alva- 
rado ;  "by  the  authority  of  the  Virgin  and  St.  lago,  an  enemy 
to  idolatry,  and  a  sworn  knight  in  the  service  of  heaven  and  Cas- 
tile !  a  true  but  lowly  champion  of  the  church,  pledged  for  the 
defence  of  virtue  and  the  Catholic  religion  !" 

"Then,  get  thee  back,"  returned  the  Toltec,  "for  we  have 
naught  with  thee  or  thine.  In  the  fulfillment  of  our  duties,  and 
the  performance  of  our  ritual,  we  need  neither  instruction  nor 
advice." 

"Nay,  but  by  the  holy  sepulchre  of  Jerusalem  !  ye  shall  be 
directed  and  restrained ;  for,  know  ye,  dark-bearded  infidel,  that 
we  have  heard  of  your  horrid  purpose  to  commit  a  murder,  a 
hideous  and  foul  murder,  of  an  innocent  child,  under  the  name 
and  guise  of  sacrifice  ;  and,  in  the  name  of  the  church  and  St. 
Dominick,  I  forbid  the  unholy  act." 

"  Your  bidding  is  useless  and  superfluous  here,"  replied  Mal- 
miztic,  "  and  were  there  an  occasion  for  its  exercise,  I,  in  the 
name  of  the  Aztec  empire,  by  the  authority  of  my  office  as  mas- 
ter of  these  ceremonies,  deny  all  your  right  of  interference,  and 
unhesitatingly  pronounce  your  presence  at  this  festival  a  pre- 
sumptuous and  intrusive  act,  which  should  be  reprimanded 
rather  than  tolerated  ;  and,  by  virtue  of  my  station,  I  command 
you  to  depart  in  peace,  and  leave  these  people  to  their  own 
control." 

"Nay,  thou  brazen  heathen,"  returned  Alvarado,  "but  I  vdll 
remain,  and  all  my  troop,  and  look  well  to  it  that  no  murder  be 
dpne  here,  to  satisfy  thy  host  of  demon  gods." 

"Man  of  the  east,"  replied  Malmiztic,  "there  is  no  purpose 
here  of  human  sacrifice ;  this  festival  is  guided  by  m'e,  whose 
faith  knows  but  a  single  God !  I,  who  abhor,  as  much  as  thou 
canst,  the  dark  and  bloody  act  of  human  slaughter." 

"  Knave  !"  shouted  Alvarado,  shaking  his  sword,  and  pointing 
15 


1 70  MALMIZTIC,  THE   TOLTEC  ,'    AND 

to  the  temple's  top,  **  thou  canst  not  deceive  me  with  lies,  for 
no  sooner  shall  my  back  be  turned,  than  yonder  gleaming 
fires  will  blaze  around  the  helpless  form  of  a  harmless  in- 
nocent." 

"Not  so.  Christian,"  answered  Malmiztic,  and  his  large,  black 
eyes  grew  brilliant  as  he  spoke,  "there  breathes  not  the  being  in 
Montezuma's  realm,  who  can  say  that  my  sanction  was  ever  had 
to  sacrifice,  save  the  offering  of  these  flowers,  the  painted  pro- 
ducts of  the  teeming  earth,  a  worthy  boon  to  the  pure  Spirit 
whose  eye  gives  them  birth,  even  as  he  gives  breath  to  his  nobler 
creature,  man.  And,  therefore,  I  say,  to  thee,  man  of  the  east, 
return,  satisfied  that  while  Malmiztic,  the  Toltec,  sways  the  cere- 
mony at  this  festival  of  flowers,  no  blood,  but  the  juice  of  crimson 
blossoms,  shall  stain  the  altar-stone  of  yon  temple,  and  no  smoke 
shall  ascend  from  its  summit,  save  the  rich  incense  of  blooming 
plants,  rising  towards  the  blue  home  of  blessed  spirits.  I  bid 
thee,  in  all  calmness,  away  !  nor  mar  the  worship  or  pastime  of 
this  people,  lest,  more  suddenly  than  thou  deemest,  their  ire  be 
aroused,  when  thy  troop  shall  pay  the  penalty  of  this  presuming 
rashness.  Be  guided  by  me,  who,  neither  liking  thee,  nor  thy 
company,  would  yet  not  see  thee  fall  victim  to  thine  own 
temerity.     To  you,  once  more,  I  therefore  say,  depart !" 

"  Ho,  friends !"  exclaimed  Alvarado,  "  behold  the  Aztec's 
daughter,  yonder  fair  form,  belongs  to  us,  and  not  to  this  host  of 
heathens  ;  we  must  have  her  in  charge ;  she  escaped  without  the 
consent  of  Cortes,  and  it  is  our  duty,  as  honest  knights,  to  res- 
cue her  from  the  hands  of  these  infidels.  By  my  faith  in  St. 
James,  he  is  no  true  cavalier  who  denies  me  his  aid  to  regain 
this  princess  from  captivity !" 

So  saying,  Alvarado  struck  spurs  to  his  steed,  and  attempted 
to  dash  forward  to  the  throne,  where  Tecuiclipo  was  seated  ;  but 
the  stone  of  the  pavement  was  so  smoothly  polished,  as  to  render 
the  footing  of  his  horse  very  insecure,  which  Alvarado  observing, 
leaped  from  his  saddle,  and  threw  the  reins  to  a  soldier,  and 
drawing  his  sword,  he  strode  on,  clearing  the  crowd  before 
him,  up  to  the  very  spot  where  the  princess  sat,  in  the  place 
of  state,  and,  turning  suddenly  towards  his  interpreter,  he 
exclaimed  : 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  171 

*'  Tell  this  mob  of  godless  infidels,  that  I  claim  this  maid,  in 
the  name  of  her  father,  Montezuma,  the  emperor  of  Mexico, 
and  by  the  command  of  Don  Hernando  Cortes,  general  of  his 
majesty,  Charles  V,  of  Spain,  and  insist  upon  taking  her  into 
my  charge,  into  the  care  and  custody  of  her  father.'* 

**And  I,"  said  Guatemozin,  stepping  boldly  up  to  the  other  side 
of  the  throne,  "claim  her,  in  the  name  of  the  Aztec  nation — and 
by  the  holy  law  of  the  heart !  I  know  no  claim  of  kindred  out- 
weighing my  right  of  affection  ;  I  know  no  command  of  a  captive 
king  ;  and  as  for  lords  of  stranger  lands,  the  very  echoes  of  their 
voices  fall  powerless  and  dead  in  the  heart  of  this  free  city  and 
empire." 

''Back,  heathen  dog!"  cried  Alvarado,  **or  by  the  blood  of 
the  martyrs,  I'll  make  a  ghost  of  thee,  ere  a  star  could  shoot  out 
of  sight!"  and  with  these  words,  he  mounted  his  steps  of  the 
throne  to  seize  the  princess. 

"  Christian,  hold !"  shouted  Guatemozin,  and  his  wild,  dark 
eyes  darted  forth  electric  fire,  *'  lay  not  your  hands  upon  the 
form  which  sits  in  that  throne,  or  I  swear,  by  the  spectre  that 
haunts  the  caverns  of  Popocatepetl,  I  will  follow  thee  to  the 
grave,  but  that  I'll  pluck  her  back !" 

''Away  hound  !"  roared  the  infuriate  Spaniard,  "  this  maiden 
is  the  affianced  bride  of  Cuitlahua,  prince  of  Iztapalapan,  and 
thou  hast  no  claim  upon  her.  I  charge  thee  again,  to  beware 
how  thou  opposest  the  will  of  my  commander,  and  the  sovereign 
of  this  empire.  Advance  to  thwart  my  purpose,  and  thou  shalt 
pay  dearly  for  thy  temerity." 

"  Thinkest  thou  I  fear  thy  vain  boasting  ?"  said  Guatemozin, 
advancing,  as  Alvarado  laid  his  mailed  left  hand  upon  the 
shoulder  of  the  princess  ;  "nay,  I  dread  thee  not — I  defy  thee! 
hold  off  thy  touch  from  that  maiden's  form  !" 

"  Callest  thou  Alvarado  a  vain  boaster?"  said  the  haughty 
Spaniard,  drawing  himself  proudly  back,  and  grasping  the  hilt  of 
his  sword,  with  a  vice-like  firmness.  ' '  Thou  defiest  me,  dost  thou, 
dog! — then  take  that  for  thy  defiance,  thou  godless  heathen  !" 

And  with  these  words,  Alvarado  leaped  with  a  tremendous 
bound   towards   Guatemozin.   and  dealt  a  blow  with  his  well- 


1 72  MALMIZTie,    THE    TOLTEC  ,*    AND 

tempered  Toledo  at  his  head,  which  would  have  needed  no  fol- 
lowing stroke,  had  it  not  been  caught,  as  it  descended  almost  upon 
the  crest  of  the  young  Aztec,  by  the  lightning  blade  of  Malmiztic, 
which,  interposing  swift  as  a  sunbeam,  made  the  keen  sword  of 
the  Spaniard  ring  loud,  as  it  went  whirling  upward  in  the  air,  far 
above  his  head,  and  fell  at  some  distance  upon  the  stone  pave- 
ment ;  but  quick  as  the  flash  of  an  eye,  Alvarado  sprang  for- 
ward and  seized  Guatemozin  by  the  throat,  with  both  hands, 
with  a  hold  like  the  grasp  of  an  eagle's  talons  ;  but,  as  suddenly, 
the  young  prince,  with  a  powerful  blow,  dealt  even  against  the 
polished  plate  of  his  breast,  compelled  the  Spaniard  to  relax  a 
trifle,  when,  swift  as  thought,  Guatemozin  struck  him  upon  the 
side  of  his  helmet,  such  a  stroke  as  made  the  ears  of  Alvarado 
ring,  as  he  reeled  round  and  round  like  one  bewildered,  and  was 
about  to  fall,  when  one  of  his  associates  rushed  in  and  sup- 
ported him,  and  Malmiztic,  laying  his  hands  upon  Guatemozin, 
withheld  him  from  rushing  upon  the  Christians,  as  they  bore 
their  leader  ofi". 

All  this  was  brief  work  ;  but  the  excitement  of  the  multitude 
had  become  terrible  ;  and  as  the  Spaniards  retired,  shouts,  hisses, 
and  huzzas,  were  given  in  every  direction.  By  this  time,  Alva- 
rado was  so  far  recovered,  as  to  remount  his  horse,  and  as  he 
heard  the  revilings  and  mockeries  of  the  great  mass  of  the  Mexi- 
cans, he  threw  open  his  bonnet  of  mail,  and  turning  half  way 
round  on  his  horse,  he  looked  back  with  a  burning  face  and  an 
eye  like  fire,  and,  clenching  his  teeth  and  hand,  he  shook  the 
latter  menacingly  at  the  mob,  and  with  his  troop  rode  slowly 
away  from  the  temple. 

Loud  bursts  of  derisive  laughter,  now  came  from  the  crowd, 
and  Guatemozin  and  Tecuiclipo  turned  to  thank  Malmiztic  for  his 
timely  aid,  but  in  the  thick  confusion  of  the  vast  multitude,  the 
Toltec  could  nowhere  be  discovered. 

The  nobility  proceeded  to  their  homes  to  prepare  the  grand 
evening  feast.  Most  of  the  people  dispersed,  but  yet  a  body  fol- 
lowed Alvarado  and  his  companions,  in  the  distance,  with  hoot- 
ings  and  yells,  to  their  quarters,  and  even  kept  up  mockeries 
and  bowlings  around  the  ancient  palace  until  after  sunset. 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  173 

But,  although  the  fiery  souled  Alvarado  burned  for  ven- 
geance, yet  he  restrained  his  wrath,  and  suffered  no  one  to  go 
without  the  quarters,  save  the  sentinels  upon  duty,  and  when 
the  night  came  on,  the  mob  dispersed  to  different  parts  of  the 
city — and  Pedro  de  Alvarado  was  busily  engaged  in  making  a 
silent  preparation  for  returning  the  indignity  which  had  been 
offered  to  him,  with  a  fearful  rate  of  interest. 


CHAPTER  XIX 


A  GREAT  feast  was  held  in  one  of  those  superb  palaces,  by  the 
lake,  whose  architecture,  combining  solidity  with  beauty,  gave 
the  Aztec  capital  the  right  to  claim  the  title  which  the  conquer- 
ors conferred  upon  it,  of  the  "Venice  of  the  West." 

It  was  night,  a  soft,  sweet  night,  when  southern  gales,  coming 
over  beds  of  flowers,  filled  the  frame  with  an  unspeakable,  quiet, 
dreamy  delight,  producing  a  luxurious  state  of  beatitude,  from 
which,  as  from  a  pleasant  vision  of  the  night,  one  would  not  wish 
to  be  awakened,  but  would  rather  be  content  that  such  a  scene, 
and  such  sensations  of  bliss,  would  last  forever. 

The  yellow  moon  had  just  lifted  her  golden  horns  over  the 
shadowy  spires  of  the  city  of  Tezcuco,  to  the  east,  and  sent  over 
the  thousand  turrets  of  its  towers,  a  broad  river  of  light,  which 
seemed  to  pour  down  from  the  azure  fields  of  heaven  and  spread 
itself  in  one  wide  sheet  of  gold,  as  it  was  emptied  into,  and  blent 
with,  the  blue  waves  of  the  lake. 

The  moonlight  fell  upon  these  palace  walls  of  the  blood-red  stone 
Tezontli,  and  upon  the  other  side,  half  lost  in  shadows,  was  a 
sweet  little  grove,  filled  with  spicy  flowers.  Finely-carved  statu- 
ary stood,  here  and  there,  under  the  darkness  of  the  trees,  or 
the  white  figures  were  half  revealed  by  wandering  beams  of  the 
moon. 

In  this  splendid  palace,  a  more  magnificent  than  which  stood 
not  in  the  Tezcucan  vale,  were  assembled  all  the  flower  of  the 
Aztec  nobility,  and  such  a  banquet  was  prepared  as  was  in  keep- 
ing with  the  high  character  of  the  goodly  company.  The  deco- 
ration of  the  festal  hall  was  suited  to  the  season  and  occasion,  it 
being  with  blossom-bearing  boughs,  and  festoons  of  fragrant 
flowers.  Tapers  and  torches  of  odorous  wax  and  gums  were 
(174) 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  175 

burning ;  and  from  vases,  whose  crystal  sides  were  painted  with 
the  most  brilliant  dyes,  issued  gentle  streams  of  sweet,  rich  in- 
cense, whose  soft,  thin  smoke,  curling  gently  up  to  the  painted 
ceiling,  floated  quietly  out  at  the  open  windows. 

Grave  matters  of  state  were,  for  a  time,  discussed,  but  as  the 
purple  juice  of  the  aloe  began  to  flow  more  freely,  things  grew 
more  hopeful  in  hue,  and  all  seemed  bent  upon  devoting  the  hour 
to  happiness  and  hope. 

The  many  torches  upon  the  wall  gleamed  upon  the  rarest 
viands,  in  dishes,  whose  solid  surfaces,  flashing  in  the  light, 
plainly  bespoke  them  to  be  of  the  purest  gold  ;  and  goblets  of 
Cholulan  crystal,  of  the  brightest  colors  and  the  purest  transpa- 
rency, glowed  with  the  sparkling  octli — the  delicious  wine  of  the 
Aztecs,  that  blushed  with  the  bright  blood  of  the  cochineal,  as 
the  noble  guests  raised  them,  from  time  to  time,  to  their  lips. 

Many  were  the  beautiful  speeches  which  the  guests  would  de- 
liver upon  the  ancient  and  time-honored  custom  of  the  Feast  of 
Flowers.  Every  one  seemed,  by  the  beauty  of  the  theme,  to 
become  an  orator  by  inspiration,  and  the  countless  cups  would 
rise  when  some  patriotic  outburst  of  feeling  would  be  expressed, 
or  some  touch  of  sentiment  ran,  like  an  eleqjric  spark,  from  soul 
to  soul,  and  brightened  each  countenance  as  it  passed. 

The  merry  goblets  clinked ;  the  purple  stream  poured  forth  its 
volume  plenteously  ;  the  spirit  of  ^mirth  laughed  in  the  banquet- 
hall,  and  a  thousand  voices  echoed  back  an  answer. 

Right  joyously  was  the  night  progressing,  for  the  jest  was 
upon  every  tongue,  and  a  smile  played  upon  every  lip  ;  each  face 
seemed  the  mirror  which  reflected  gladness  in  its  neighbor's  eyes  ; 
and  then,  when  matters  of  state  and  ceremonies  of  religion  had 
long  passed,  the  theme  of  love  came  in  and  lighted  the  whole 
board — which  love,  so  blent  with  flowers,  poetry,  music,  and 
woman,  was  the  vital  principle  of  the  feast  which  they  celebrated  ; 
and  when  the  happy  jests  of  the  humorous  were  hushed,  few 
were  the  ears  which  did  not  relish,  and  few  the  hands  which 
did  not  applaud,  the  love  song,  which  all  insisted  that  Guate- 
mozin  should  sing,  as  no  other  tongue  could  in.  the  whole 
empire. 


176  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC ;    AND 

SONG. 

When  youth  first  awakens  to  visions  of  bliss, 

And  feeling's  bright  fount  in  the  bosom  is  pure  ; 
When  the  lip  first  hath  felt  the  deep  thrill  of  a  kiss, 

'Tis  the  height  of  all  joy  that  the  soul  can  endure- 
Like  the  rainbow  which  spans  the  bright  arch  of  the  skies, 
It  lives  but  an  hour — it  fades — and  it  dies. 

The  air-plant,  which  hangs  from  the  top  of  the  trees, 
Like  Love's  clue  of  gold,  as  it  clings  to  the  heart. 

Is  kissed  by  the  sunshine  and  wooed  by  the  breeze  ; 
But  dies  in  a  moment  if  ever  they  part. 

So  love  from  love  parted,  long  lost,  ever  flies. 

As  a  bird  seeks  its  mate  through  an  ocean  of  skies.   . 

From  the  chrysalis  heart,  Love  opens  his  wings. 
And  glides  like  a  halcyon  o'er  summery  tides  ; 

But  his  iris-hued  feathers  are  delicate  things. 
And  a  wave  will  destroy  them  as  onward  he  glides, 

As  a  bubble  in  sunshine,  a  rainbow  in  dyes 

Goes  down  in  the  waters  to  never  more  rise. 

V 

Some  flowers  may  wither,  but  others  will  spring , 
Bright  stars  may  rush  out,  but  as  bright  will  appear ; 

The  song-bird  may  flee,  but  another  will  sing 
The  sky  be  o'ercast,  but  it  will  yet  be  clear ; 

The  sun  goeth  down,  but  again  it  will  rise — 

But  Love,  like  the  aloe,  blooms  once — and  it  dies. 

Its  flowers  come  forth  in  sunshine  or  gloom. 
And  the  light  of  its  life  is  the  magic  of  eyes ; 

It  gently  unfolds,  or  it  bursts  into  bloom, 
A  flower  of  earth,  but  with  heavenly  ties — 

Not  the  might  of  the  strong,  nor  the  words  of  the  wise. 

Could  give  it  existence,  or  life,  when  it  dies. 

'T  is  the  aloe  that  blooms  but  once  in  the  soul ! 

The  cynosure  light  in  the  heart  that  doth  bum  ; 
If  it  shoots  from  its  place,  like  the  star  from  the  pole. 

It  never  again  to  its  home  will  return. 
In  the  night  of  the  soul  new  stars  may  arise — 
But  Love,  like  the  aloe,  blooms  once — and  it  dies. 

Again  the  outburst  of  joy  pealed  forth  upon  the  night,  and  the 
clink  of  flashing  goblets  resounded  through  the  mighty  hall. 
Bright  were  the  red  and  yellow  torches  which  burned  against  the 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  177 

flowered  wall,  and  bright  were  the  dark  eyes  of  the  merry  host, 
who,  lost  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  hour,  forgot,  for  a  time,  that  a 
foe  lay  in  the  heart  of  their  happy  home. 

The  night  wore  on,  but  mirth  left  not  the  banquet-board,  each 
from  the  other  seemed  to  catch  a  gladness  of  spirit.  The  poet 
spake  his  poem,  and  the  orator  his  speech ;  the  buffoon  and  clown 
gave  their  humors,  at  which  the  host  would  make  the  walls  ring 
with  laughter.  It  was  a  joyous  feast — the  stream  of  happiness 
was  full,  and  flowed  on  in  its  smooth  course,  covered  with  flowers, 
without  a  gale  to  ruffle  its  surface,  or  a  cloud  to  darken  its  light. 

**  Friends,"  said  Guatemozin,  **  I  would  we  had  here,  to-night, 
my  fiiend  Malmiztic ;  I  would  be  content  that'  he  should  rail 
against  the  bright  blood  of  the  aloe,  and  praise  the  flood  of  the 
fountain,  if  I  might  now  thank  him  for  the  timely  sweep  of  his 
bright  blade,  which  saved  me  from  the  death-stroke  of  the  savage 
Spaniard.  Is  there  in  this  assembly  any  one  who  can  tell  aught 
of  him,  since  he  left  us  so  suddenly,  by  the  great  temple  J" 

To  this  question  an  old  man  started  up  from  the  farther  corner 
of  the  room,  his  head  was  covered  with  long  locks  of  snowy  hair, 
which  fell  in  fleecy  folds  upon  his  time-marked  brow,  and  flowed 
down  behind  on  his  dusky  shoulders — between  his  browned  skin, 
and  his  locks  of  snow,  there  was  a  strange,  but  by  no  means  un- 
pleasant contrast — while  from  his  wrinkled  face,  his  bright  black 
eyes  beamed  forth  with  a  gentleness  which  touched,  while  it  won 
the  beholder,  by  their  mild,  soft  beauty.  He  rose  tremblingly, 
and  bowing  low,  said  in  a  subdued  sweet  voice,  as  he  supported 
himself  upon  a  white  staff",  entwined  with  roses  : 

"  May  thy  servant  speak,  my  lord  Guatemozin  V* 

"  Gladly,"  answered  the  prince,  "  will  we  hear  thee,  reverend 
man,  none  are  more  welcome  to  our  feast  than  the  ancient  min- 
strel of  Montezuma.  Whence  comest  thou,  Octo,  or  canst  thou 
say  aught  of  Malmiztic  V 

**  My  lord,  Octo  is  now  a  messenger  from  his  emperor*s  servant, 
the  Toltec,  as  he  bids  me  say,  and  comes  to  say  beside,  that  Mal- 
miztic would  be  pardoned  for  not  being  with  those  to-night,  who 
celebrate  the  yearly  feast  of  Flowers — his  heart  is  heavy,  and  he 
would  not  mar  the  enjoyment  of  the  company  by  a  shadowed 
face,  where  all  should  gleam  with  gladness — and  lastly,  oh  !  great 


178  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

lords !  thy  humble  minstrel,  old  and  grey,  comes,  from  the  dark 
dungeon  of  his  loved  but  lost  master,  the  young  prince,  Cacama !" 
At  these  words  a  cloud  of  gloom  shaded  every  countenance. 
*'  In  his  dungeon  depths  he  said  to  me,  *  Octo,  my  friend  of  hap- 
pier hours,  if  my  memory  has  not  lost  its  light  in  this  living  sep- 
ulchre, it  should  now  be  near  the  Festival  of  Flowers.' 

"'My  lord,'"  I  answered,  'even  this  day  do  they  march  in 
procession,  and  sing  their  chant  of  triumph.' 

*'  *  Then,'  replied  he,  '  go,  good  minstrel,  seek  the  festal  hall  of 
my  kindred  and  companions,  and  say  that  the  captive,  even  from 
his  cell,  sends  them  his  greeting  and  love,  and  say  that  Cacama 
would  ask  to  put  in  his  pledge  in  their  glowing  goblets  of  octli — 
the  last  tear  for  Tezcuco ! — and  ask  that  you  may  sing  for  him 
his  farewell  song,  and  bid  adieu  to  the  Aztec  empire  in  his  name. 
Say  this  to  them,  Octo,  and  if  I  am  not  lost  to  them  already,  they 
will  hear  thee,  even  for  the  sake  of  my  memory  in  better  and 
brighter  days.'  Thus  spake  he,  my  lords,  and  a  smile  played 
upon  his  wan  face,  as  he  gave  me  from  his  thin  hands,  upon  a 
leaf  of  aloe,  words  which  he  had  traced  as  his  last  hnes ;  and 
now,  my  lord,  shall  thy  humble  servitor  sing?" 

When  the  minstrel  had  ceased  speaking,  half  the  eyes  in  the 
hall  were  overflowing,  or  stood  brimful  of  tears. 

**  Gentle  minstrel,"  said  Guatemozin,  to  whom  Octo  had  ad- 
dressed himself,  "  though  our  griefs  weigh  down  our  hearts  with 
sad  remembrances,  yet  will  we  hear  thee,  with  that  melancholy 
pleasure  which  is  likest  to  joy's  wildest,  deepest  ecstacy,  and 
even  from  the  mournful  recollections  which  must  arise  from  asso- 
ciation, from  the  measure  will  we  gather  gladness,  even  as  the  bee 
draws  his  sweet  draught  from  the  bitterest  blossoms.  Therefore, 
awaken  the  melody,  my  gentle  minstrel,  as  I  have  heard  thee 
plaintively  in  days  gone  by." 

The  old  man,  with  his  staff  in  hand,  tremblingly  tottered  across 
the  floor,  to  where  an  instrument  like  a  harp  stood,  half  hid  be- 
hind the  arras,  and  having  moved  it  forwards,  gently  swept  his 
faltering  fingers  over  the  chords — like  the  touch  of  an  enchanter, 
those  feeble  hands  woke  a  strain  of  wondrous  wildness  and 
beauty,  a  fairy  prelude,  which  was  fitted  to  the  wizard  voice  which 
foUowea,  low,  but  unbroken  in  its  wild  and  magical  rhapsody. 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  179 

SONG. 

The  spirit  of  change  is  ever,  ever  flying. 

Like  an  angel  o'er  the  ocean  and  the  earth ; 
N"ew  things  come  forth,  while  olden  ones  are  dying. 

The  dead  now  sleep,  where  life  but  late  had  birth. 
Eve  follows  mom,  and  darkness  swallows  day; 
And  midst  the  gloom  a  mystic  voice  doth  say — 
Passing  away,  passing  away. 

The  Spring's  bright  skies  and  greenwood  leaves  are  fleeting; 

The  golden  Summer  droops  her  yellow  head; 
Brown  Fall  with  failing  step  is  fast  retreating, 

And  frozen  Winter  in  his  shroud  lies  dead. 
December  chills  the  diamond  tears  of  May, 
And  whispering  winds  forever  seem  to  say — 

Passing  away,  passing  away. 

The  wild  Centzontli*  sings  within  his  bower, 
'Till  moonlight's  gold  is  gathered  up  by  Gloom; 

The  woodbine  droops  and  folds  its  fairy  flower, 
And  dies  in  darkness,  midst  its  own  perfume. 

Thus  life's  bright  blossoms  leaf  by  leaf  decay, 

When  Fate  throws  shadows  o'er  Hope's  moonlit  way — 
Silence  doth  say,  passing  away. 

The  mark  of  time  o'er  youth's  bright  brow  is  stealing ; 

The  eye  grows  dim  which  beamed  of  late  so  clear ; 
The  ice  of  age  congeals  the  fount  of  feeling, 

The  heart's  dry  well  o'erflows  not  with  a  tear. 
Where  life's  joys  danced  like  fairy  and  fay. 
Move  shadows  and  phantoms  dismal  and  grey — 
Passing  away,  passing  away. 

Farewell  to  earth !  for  life  is  almost  failing. 
My  country  lost !  my  friends  and  freedom  fled ; 

One  word  of  sad,  but  yet  of  sweet  bewailing, 
Tezcuco !  bless  thee  !  bless  thee,  when  I'm  dead ! 

One  sigh,  one  tear,  before  I'm  turned  to  clay; 

Life  is  a  dream — Earth,  a  vision  of  day — 

Passing  away,  passing  away. 

The  minstrel  ceased,  and  again  bowing  low,  lifted  his  light  in- 
strument, and  stepped  slow  and  tremblingly  away.  The  joy  of 
the  feast  had  fled — the  one  tear  which  fell  from  the  old  man's 
cheek  as  he  departed,  embittered  the  full  flowing  stream  of  their 
happiness. 

*Mocking-Bird. 


180  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

The  song  had  ceased,  and  silence  for  a  space  pervaded  the 
great  hall.  Suddenly  a  voice  was  heard,  whose  tones,  though 
they  came  through  the  window,  low  and  indistinct,  yet  the  strange 
manner  in  which  the  dark  head  which  uttered  them,  appeared  at 
the  window,  and  then  vanished,  had  something  terribly  startling 
in  it.     In  a  moment  more,  it  again  cried  louder  than  before, 

**  Guatemozin,  fly  !  beware !  beware  !  the  foe  is  at  hand !" 

Instantly  figures  of  the  banqueters  stood  in  the  palace  portal, 
the  tall  columns  threw  their  long  black  shadows  upon  the  ground, 
white  with  the  moonlight,  but  no  form  of  life  was  visible,  nor  a 
sound  heard,  save  from  the  leafy  grove  hard  by,  the  wild  mocking- 
bird's magical  notes  broke  the  deep  stillness  of  the  night. — 
The  revellers  again  turned  to  the  banquet,  and  one  exclaimed, 

*'  By  the  yellow  horns  of  the  moon  !  this  is  a  good  jest ;  some 
knave  in  his  cups  has  thought  to. frighten  us." 

"  Ha !  ha !  ha !"  roared  his  companions,  in  a  loud  burst  of 
laughter. 

"  Ho  !"  cried  another,  who  had  not  left  his  seat  from  fear,  and 
was  known  as  an  arrant  coward,  "  Ho  !  I  feared  it  not ;  I  knew 
it  was  some  boy's  trick,  to  try  our  courage — a  brave  and  season- 
able jest." 

**  Tush  !"  said  another,  "there  was  no  noise,  or  if  there  was 
it  was  but  the  cry  of  a  night-hawk,  as  it  passed." 

**  Nay,"  said  twenty  voices  at  once,  in  reply,  '*  the  voice  was 
that  of  a  man." 

'*  I  saw  the  figure,  as  I  live,"  said  one,  who  sat  near  Guatemo- 
zin. This  remark  brought  forth  an  ironical  outburst  of  laughter 
from  a  nobleman,  much  affected  with  wine,  who  sat  upon  the 
opposite  side  of  the  board,  who  questioned,  mockingly, 

"  Had  it  horns,  and  great  fiery  eyes  ?  then  I  lay  my  brightest 
emerald  it  were  a  terrible  owl,  with  a  voice  loud  enough  to 
frighten  an  army  of  Tlascalans." 

"Nay,"  answered  the  other,  ** I  will  swear  that  I  saw  the  face 
and  form  of  a  man,  and  I  will  wager  thee  this  diamond  in  my 
bracelet,  to  thy  emerald,  that  thou  darest  not  walk  thrice  around 
the  palace  grounds  alone." 

"It  is  a  wager,"  exclaimed  the  other,  eagerly,  as  he  strode 
fearlessly  out  of  the  room,  and  stepped  briskly  down  the  steps 


THE    CAVALIERS    OP    THE    CROSS.  181 

of  the  portal,  and  cast  his  eyes  around  the  palace,  in  every 
direction.  The  night  breeze  scarcely  moved  the  thick  leaves  of 
the  fig-trees,  .and  the  moonlight  shed  its  pearly  sheen  upon  every 
object  in  its  line  ;  but  the  eye  of  the  seeker  could  see  no  object 
like  life,  save  the  statues,  which  stood  cold  and  stony,  in  various 
parts  of  the  garden  and  groves.  As  he  pursued  his  way  around 
the  palace,  he  fancied  he  heard  a  sound ;  his  heart  beat  fast,  as 
he  listened  fearfully;  but  it  came  no  more,  and  he  walked  on- 
ward ;  but  again  he  was  startled  by  a  movement  in  some  thick- 
leaved  bushes  at  his  side,  but  still  he  paused  not,  but  moved 
onward,  trying  to  quiet  himself  under  the  conjecture  that  it  might 
be  a  bird,  or  some  small  beast  of  prey,  prowling  through  the 
thicket.  He  had  nearly  made  the  circuit  of  the  palace,  when 
suddenly  he  saw  a  bright  steel  bonnet  flash  behind  a  giant  cactus, 
and  by  a  slight  movement,  the  Aztec  saw  the  full  figure  of  a 
man  in  mail  standing  close  behind  the  great  green  plant.  The 
moonbeams  blazed  on  the  burnished  harness,  and  a  chill  of  terror 
ran  through  the  Aztec's  frame,  as  he  strode  swiftly  onward,  to 
reach  the  rear  portal  of  the  palace  ;  but  now,  on  every  side,  his 
eye  scanned  the  aloe  and  cacti  trees  in  his  way,  and  his  heart 
almost  froze  with  horror  as  he  beheld,  hid  behind  them,  the 
black  spectres  of  iron-clad  men.  With  hasty  and  trembling  foot- 
steps he  fled,  and  mounting  the  marble  stairway,  rushed  into  the 
door  of  the  great  hall  of  the  palace.  He  entered  the  door  where 
the  guests  were  assembled,  with  his  brown  face  blanched  and 
wan,  and  a  wild  look  of  horror  in  his  eye.  He  tottered  forwards 
toward  the  festal  board ;  his  limbs  quaked  under  him,  and  a 
ghastly  pallor  overspread  his  whole  countenance.  The  host  of 
guests  rose  in  an  instant,  as  a  single  man,  all  petrified  with  as- 
tonishment at  the  appearance  of  their  companion  ;  but  the  entire 
body  were  struck  into  a  speechless  silence,  and  became  fixed  as 
marble  statues,  when  they  heard  a  clarion  voice  cry  through  the 
fearful  silence  of  the  night, 

**  Santiago !  Santiago  !  and  death  to  them  !  Down  with  the 
heathen  dogs  !  Guard  every  gap,  and  upon  them  !  for  the  love 
of  Christ  and  the  Virgin  !" 

Scarce  had  this  strange  cry  been  heard,  when  the  reeds  which 
covered  the  windows  were  torn  aside,  and  the  bearded  faces  of 


182  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC ;    AND 

Alvarado  and  his  soldiers  were  seen,  with  the  stern  gaze  of 
death  in  their  iron  visages. 

*'  For  victory  and  for  vengeance !  fire  upon  them !"  shouted 
the  same  voice,  and  in  another  instant  muskets  were  pointed  in  at 
every  window,  and  the  red  blaze  burst  forth,  peal  after  peal,  and 
sent  death  and  confusion  through  the  terrified  throng. 

"  Spare  not  a  cursed  infidel !"  the  fierce  Spaniard  cried,  as  he 
leaped  through  the  window  to  the  inside. 

**  In,  men !  in !  and  for  God  and  St.  James*  sake,  hew  down 
the  dogs  to  your  feet !"  and  he  drew  his  ponderous  blade,  and 
swept  it  right  and  left  before  him,  as  the  unarmed  crowd  fell 
back,  while  in  at  every  window  leaped,  one  after  another,  his  ter- 
rible followers.  Presently  those  Aztecs  who  were  armed,  rushed 
boldly  forward,  while  the  defenceless  retreated  under  their  pro- 
tection. Blade  met  blade,  as  the  Aztecs,  stumbling  over  the 
bodies  of  their  companions  who  had  fallen  by  the  fire  of  mus- 
ketry, rushed  against  the  iron-handed  Christians ;  but  the  ma- 
quahuitls,  and  dark  glassy  swords  of  itzli  were  shivered  in  atoms 
as  the  heavy  blades  of  steel  fell  upon  them  and  the  heads  of  the 
fated  Aztecs. 

Shrieks,  groans  and  death-struggles  filled  the  apartment  with 
a  horrid  and  stunning  noise — but  loud  above  the  appalling  cries 
of  the  dying  and  the  wounded,  the  trumpet-tones  of  Alvarado's 
voice,  shouting  to  his  bloody  troop,  was  heard,  and  high  above  the 
din  and  uproar  of  cries  and  clamor,  rang  forth  the  battle-shout  of 
**  Santiago  !  Santiago  !"  and  "Spare  not  !'* 

The  storm  raged  fearfully  ;  the  Aztec  numbers  were  only  in 
each  other's  way,  while  the  small  fiery  band  of  Christians  came 
upon  them  with  the  ferocity  of  famished  tigers.  The  blood  grew 
deep  on  the  banquet-floor,  and  the  spirit  of  resistance,  upon  the 
part  of  the  Aztecs,  was  fast  flagging,  when  Guatemozin,  rushing 
forward,  roared  forth  with  a  voice  of  thunder,  in  the  battle-storm, 
as  he  wheeled  his  burnished  blade  of  bright  black  itzli  over  his 
head, 

"  On !  on !  and  die  like  men  ! — fly  not,  Aztecs  !  your  gods, 
your  wives,  your  babes  call  on  you  to  fall  in  your  footsteps  for 
Mexitli  and  Mexico  !" 

With  these  words  his  associates  turned  like  a  recoiling  billow. 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  183 

and  the  carnage  of  battle  became  bloody  and  terrible,  as  they 
clashed  hand  to  hand.  On  came  the  Aztec  throng  with  their  up- 
lifted weapons,  and  a  desperation  which  arises  from  being  driven 
to  an  extremity — the  fierce  return  which  the  bear  at  bay  makes, 
when  he  has  retreated  until  he  can  get  no  farther,  but  turns  upon 
his  assailants,  and  becomes  the  attacking  party,  instead  of  the 
attacked. 

Guatemozin  strode  forward  with  his  ponderous  blade  of  the 
bright  black  flint,  sweeping  all  before  him.  The  Christians  re- 
coiled before  this  sudden  and  terrible  assault,  but  fought  fiercely 
as  they  fell  back ;  and  woe  to  the  Aztec  whose  hardy  impetuosity 
hurried  him  into  the  crowd  of  Christians,  as  step  by  step  they 
retired. 

Still  the  Aztec  nobles,  encouraged  by  the  desperate  valor  of 
Guatemozin,  pressed  forward,  and  the  moment  seemed  to  promise 
an  opening  for  their  escape  from  the  confines  of  the  palaces,  and 
with  this  hope,  a  stronger  push  was  made  for  the  portals.  As 
they  advanced,  they  seemed  to  gather  energy  and  power,  and 
the  prowess  of  their  leader  inspired  them  with  an  enthusiasm  to 
follow  in  his  footsteps,  as  he  charged  onward. 

The  Christians  were  now  almost  crushed  by  the  crowd,  and 
becoming  confused  in  their  retreat,  when  suddenly  Alvarado,  dis- 
engaging himself  from  a  hand-to-hand  conflict,  perceived  that  his 
host  were  rolled  back  like  the  waves  of  desert  sands  before  the 
fiery  breath  of  the  simoon,  but  as  soon  as  his  keen  eye  caught 
a  glimpse  of  his  retiring  troops,  he  burst  forth  with  a  stentorian 
shout,  and  cried, 

**Men!  Christians!  Spaniards!  turn  for  the  honor  of  Castile, 
and  the  love  of  the  Virgin  !  Hurl  back  the  assault  of  the  foe  in 
their  teeth !  strike  home  to  each  heathen  heart !  follow  me  !"  and 
with  these  words,  he  leaped  amidst  the  brown  host  of  infuriate 
Mexicans,  and  with  his  single  sword,  stayed  the  rushing  progress 
of  the  enemy.  Desperately  he  dealt  about  him,  and  before  his 
blade  form  after  form  reeled  right  and  left,  until  his  companions, 
inspirited  by  his  voice  and  valorous  example,  made  a  rapid  and 
vigorous  charge  to  reach  the  spot  where  Alvarado  was  now 
stoutly  forcing  his  way  in  the  face  of  the  Aztecs,  who,  checked 
by  this  sudden  rebuff,  were,  in  an  instant  more,  compelled  to 


184  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  J    AND 

shrink  from  the  irresistible  violence  with  which  the  Christian 
party  once  more  advanced,  in  their  small  but  compact  and  un- 
flinching band.  The  assault  was  terrific  ;  the  brittle-blades  of 
itzli  flew  like  glass  before  the  fell  swoops  of  the  steel-armed 
enemy.  The  crimson  floods  flowed  fast  from  the  bodies  of  the 
fallen  Aztecs,  but  their  assailants  knew  no  check  or  stay,  and  so 
they  followed,  step  by  step,  their  impetuous  charge,  until  the 
conflict  became  carnage,  and  fight  was  turned  to  flight  and  pur- 
suit. In  vain  Guatemozin  called  upon  them  to  rally,  but  neither 
word  of  encouragement  or  reproach  could  bring  the  overpowered 
Aztecs  again  to  the  attack.  In  vain  he  pleaded  and  entreated 
them  to  make  one  more  stern  eff'ort  to  check  the  career  of  the 
Christians  ;  but  resistance  had  become  futile,  and  the  pohshed 
floor  of  the  huge  hall  was  slippery  with  gore. 

**  Shame  !  shame  !"  shouted  Guatemozin,  "  out  upon  the  cow- 
ard slave  that  flies !  go !  recreants  go  !  ye  white-hearted  water- 
fowl, frightened  by  ravens  and  vultures.  What !  do  ye  fly  ? 
away  then,  and  leave  the  battle  to  me ;  and  you,  ye  white 
wolves,"  continued  he,  turning  to  the  Christians,  while  his  bright 
black  eyes  burned  with  a  fierce  and  brilliant  lustre,  and  his  tall, 
stately  figure  seemed  to  tower  more  than  ever  above  the  crowd, 
**  if  ye  are  howling  and  hungry  for  your  prey,  come  on !  One 
victim  stands  ready  to  be  sacrificed,  but  his  death  shall  cost  ye 
dearly." 

"Make  way!"  cried  Alvarado,  and  the  soldiers  opened  the 
way  as  he  sprang  forward  towards  Guatemozin,  with  his  dripping 
sword  clutched  in  his  mail-gloved  hand.  The  Aztec  prince  stood 
moveless  as  a  statue  ;  his  right  arm  thrown  somewhat  behind 
him,  almost  hiding  his  ponderous  blade  of  polished  itzli,  which 
he  held.  Alvarado's  face  gleamed  with  a  wild  joy,  as  he  gazed 
upon  the  noble  form  of  his  antagonist,  and  he  smiled  with  a  look 
of  admiration,  wholly  devoid  of  all  sense  of  fear,  and  his  heated 
blood  brooked  no  thought  of  anything  but  success. 

"  Yield  thee  !"  exclaimed  Alvarado,  in  the  full,  clear  tones  of 
the  Mexican  tongue,  "yield  thee,  infidel,  or  die  !"    • 

"Then  death  !"  answered  Guatemozin. 

"  Ha  !  so  bold,  my  daring,  dark-eyed  heathen,  then  have  at 
you  !"  and  with  these  words  he  gave  a  rapid  and  skillful  stroke 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  186 

at  the  Aztec,  which  the  latter  parried  with  as  much  skill  and 
grace.  Again  the  Spaniard  struck  with  more  vigor  than  before, 
and  the  issue  of  the  blow  might  have  proved  fatal,  had  not  Guate- 
mozin  quick  as  the  flash  of  an  eye,  whirled  his  black  falchion 
around  his  head,  and  sweeping  downward,  it  caught  the  coming 
sword  of  the  Spaniard,  and  struck  it  out  of  the  holder's  grasp, 
sending  it  whirling  across  the  great  hall ;  but  the  blow  which  dis- 
armed Alvarado,  also  left  the  Aztec  weaponless,  for  so  severe  was 
the  shock  of  the  tremendous  stroke,  that  the  thick,  but  brittle 
obsidian  clashing  against  the  well-tempered  steel,  was  shivered 
into  fragments,  and  fell  scattered  like  broken  glass  upon  the  floor. 
At  this  moment  a  dozen  brawny  Aztecs  sprang  forward  to  des- 
patch the  defenceless  Christian,  with  their  maquahuitls  drawn, 
and  their  fierce  countenances  red  and  glowing  with  savage  fero- 
city, and  a  handful  of  Christians  simultaneously  moved  rapidly 
towards  their  leader,  who  cried, 

**  Off !  oft' !  by  Santiago,  I  will  not  have  a  man  of  you  come 
to  my  rescue.'* 

"Back!"  said  Guatemozin  sternly  to  the  advancing  Aztecs, 
**  if  you  cannot  strike  for  yourselves  and  country,  I  ask  not  your 
aid — away  with  you,  and  save  yourselves  by  flight !" 

Scarce  had  he  uttered  these  words,  when,  like  a  crouching 
tiger,  Alvarado  sprang  upon  him,  and  clutched  him  with  an  iron 
grasp  by  the  throat,  with  his  left  hand,  and  with  his  right  seized 
upon  the  long  black  locks  of  Guatemozin,  and  with  a  violent  jerk 
brought  the  latter  to  his  knees.  A  wild  cheer  burst  from  the 
excited  Christians,  as  they  crowded  nearer  the  combatants,  but 
quicker  than  the  flight  of  a  meteor,  the  powerful  prince  sprang 
to  his  feet,  and  like  a  condor  darting  upon  his  prey  and  closing 
his  talons,  he  leaped  up,  and  seizing  Alvarado  with  both  hands, 
swung  him  aloft  as  if  he  were  an  infant,  and  with  the  strength 
of  an  angered  giant  he  hurled  him  away  from  him  into  the  midst 
of  the  crowd  of  Christians  who  were  thronging  around. 

**  Death  to  the  heathen  Titan !  down  with  the  monster  !'* 
shrieked  Alvarado,  as  he  fell,  and  instantly  his  cavalier  com- 
panions turned  upon  Guatemozin,  who  rushing  upon  the  foremost 
soldier,  received  a  sword  thrust  through  his  arm,  but  wrenchin, 
the  weapon  from  the  grasp  of  his  opponent,  Guatemozin  bega; 
16 


186  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC ;    AND 

making  those  fearful  and  deadly  strokes  which  nothing  but  hope- 
less desperation  can  give.  Hotly  they  pressed  upon  him  ;  but  as 
he  retreated,  he  dealt  his  blows  with  an  accuracy  and  power 
which  amazed  even  those  men  whose  lives  had  been  spent  in 
Castile.  Step  by  step  as  he  fell  back,  fire  flew  from  the  clashing 
swords,  and  those  who  rushed  upon  him  were  forced  to  recoil 
from  his  desperate  defence.  The  great  hall  now  presented  a  most 
singular  scene,  the  atmosphere  was  filled  with  thick  smoke  of 
powder  from  the  firing  of  guns,  and  through  this  sulphurous 
cloud  the  yellow  and  red  glare  of  the  torches  burned  mistily  and 
strange.  In  one  end  of  the  apartment  the  Aztc'-s  crouched  hke 
a  flock  of  terrified  sheep,  while  the  whole  palace  floor  was  one 
red  sea  of  slaughter,  through  which  the  Christians  came  crowding 
on  after  a  single  warrior — a  noble  and  gallant  creature,  whose 
endurance  seemed  supernatural,  and  whose  capture  was  likely  to 
cost  more  Christian  blood  than  the  slaying  of  fifty  others.  But 
the  power  of  the  Spanish  soldiery  was  uncontrollable ;  they 
moved  forward  as  an  unbroken  bed  of  lava,  and  now  they  had 
the  Aztecs  entirely  penned  and  imprisoned  before  them. 

**God  of  my  fathers,  befriend  me  now!"  exclaimed  Guate- 
mozin,  as  he  looked  despairingly  around,  and  saw  the  utter  hope- 
lessness of  escape. 

"Seize  him  !  slay  him  !"  roared  Alvarado  to  his  companions  ; 
and  as  if  new  fire  had  been  added  to  their  boiling  blood,  the 
cavaliers  in  a  body  charged  upon  Guatemozin  ;  loud  was  the 
clang  of  swords,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  wild  confusion  of  the 
conflict  the  dark  and  towering  head  of  Guatemozin  was  seen  to 
fall,  and  the  body  go  down  upc  i  the  crowd  who  crouched  in  one 
comer.  At  this  instant  a  sight  appeared,  and  sounds  were  heard 
which  chilled  the  Spaniards  with  horror.  A  heavy,  powerful 
figure  approached,  coming  through  the  back  portal,  clad  in  black. 
Upon  his  head  was  a  brazen  copper  casque,  and  following  him 
were  two  ■  men  with  long  lances  or  pikes,  with  heavy,  sharp- 
pointed  heads.  The  athletic  form  in  black  burst  full  into  the 
midst  of  the  Christian  troop,  and  with  a  Herculean  might,  and  a 
sword  like  a  blazing  meteor,  he  cut  his  way  through  the  mass, 
ho  parted   like   the   yielding  waters   before  a  vessel's   prow ; 

ose  who  stepped  out  to  oppose  him,  in  an  instant  were  rolled 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  187 

back,  or  dropped  right  and  left,  as  if  stricken  by  lightning.  On 
he  strode  with  liis  scythe-like  sword,  mowing  a  clear  passage  be- 
fore him,  and  his  black  lustrous  eyes  gleaming  under  the  rim  of 
his  bronze  helmet,  with  a  fearful  intensity.  As  the  soldiery 
opened  before  him,  he  beheld  a  fiery  Spaniard  with  a  grizzled 
beard,  dragging  Guatemozin  by  the  hair  with  one  hand,  and  the 
other  uplifted  to  drive  a  dagger  to  his  heart;  quicker  than  a 
hawk  could  dart  upon  a  fish,  the  blazing  blade  of  the  dark-robed 
giant  descended  upon  the  arm  of  the  grey  beard  who  held  the 
dagger  aloft,  and  that  arm  fell  lifeless  and  severed  by  his  side. 
At  this  moment  the  two  pikemen  who  entered  with  the  sable 
stranger,  had  reached  the  head  of  the  hall,  one  on  each  side  of 
the  room,  when  suddenly  wheeling  about,  they  swept  down,  one 
after  another,  the  blazing  torches,  from  where  they  were  elevated 
along  the  wall,  and  the  vases  of  incense  which  burned  upon  the 
tops  of  the  great  urns  around  the  apartment ;  with  an  almost  flying 
speed  they  flew  from  one  to  another,  and  with  their  long  pikes 
struck  them  from  their  places,  and  instantaneously  the  whole  vast 
hall  was  black  as  night,  and  the  entire  host  were  left  in  confusion 
and  darkness,  without  a  ray,  save  where  a  grey  gleam  of  the 
moon's  light  came  struggling  through  the  reed-latticed  windows, 
into  the  gloom-filled  and  smoky  hall. 

It  was  a  wondrous  and  fearful  scene  ;  groans  and  prayers  were 
commingled  with  loud  shouts  and  stunning  cries,  and  the  bewil- 
dered soldiers  were  groping  about  blindly,  and  calling  aloud  to 
each  other.  A  Babel-like  confusion  followed,  and  Alvarado 
fruitlessly  essayed  to  make  himself  heard,  as  he  shouted  to  his 
soldiers  to  guard  the  door-way,  and  pursue  the  sable  stranger 
until  they  overtook  him.  Tut  fear,  which  is  the  offspring  of 
darkness,  withheld  the  Spaniards  from  rushing  upon  their  foe, 
who  had  lifted  the  fallen  Guatemozin  from  the  floor,  and  half 
supporting,  half  carrying  him,  hurried  at  a  rapid  pace  towards 
the  great  doorway,  at  which  he  had  entered.  Right  through  the 
midst  of  the  host  he  made  his  way  unharmed,  and  no  one  struck, 
for  friend  was  as  likely  to  fall  as  foe,  by  indiscriminate  blows 
hazarded  at  random  in  the  impalpable  gloom ;  but  a  soldier  fol- 
lowed fast  upon  their  footsteps,  and  had  almost  overtaken  them 
at  the   base  of  the  great  stairway,  when  suddenly  the  flying 


(t 


188  THE    (jAVAL.JtKfc    Ui     THE    CKOaS. 

parties  disappeared  in  the  thick  tangled  groves,  and  although  a 
stream  of  Spaniards  poured  out  at  the  portal  almost  instanta- 
neously, no  sign  of  the  fugitives  could  be  discovered ;  and  vain 
was  the  search  through  garden  and  grove,  by  lake-shore,  and 
canal. 

In  a  few  moments  Alvarado  had  dispatched  his  troops  in  every 
direction  by  which  he  deemed  it  possible  for  the  others  to  have 
escaped.  The  few  Aztecs  who  remained,  now  taking  advantage 
of  the  unguarded  absence  of  their  terrible  enemies,  rushed  out 
of  the  palace,  and  scattered  themselves  throughout  the  ambush 
of  the  garden,  and  in  every  place  which  seemed  to  promise  pro- 
tection. Some  of  the  unfortunate  creatures,  in  their  wild  flight, 
ran  full  upon  the  Spanish  soldiers,  who  despatched  thena  instantly, 
without  mercy. 

Thus  satiated  with  blood,  to  his  heart's  content,  the  fiery  Alva- 
rado, having  wreaked  the  full  measure  of  his  vengeance  upon  the 
heads  of  the  Aztecs,  turned  with  the  first  silver  streaks  of  the 
morning,  towards  the  palace  of  Axajacatl. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


In  the  Great  Cavern,  before  which  the  giant  palm-trees  stood, 
and  whose  mouth  was  overhung  with  clustering  curtains  of 
honeysuckles,  upon  the  ledge  of  the  mountain  precipice  of  rocks 
opposite  the  hill  of  Tezcozinco,  were  five  persons.  Two  were 
females,  and  of  a  bearing  and  beauty  truly  imperial.  Though 
the  elder  had  more  dignity,  and  a  greater  loftiness  of  manner, 
the  younger  was  favored  by  nature  with  a  softer  and  more  fairy- 
like loveliness.  Her  every  limb  was  of  surpassing  symmetry, 
and  her  countenance  of  that  angelic  mould  and  exquisite  expres- 
sion, which  blended  heavenly  serenity  with  a  sunny  glimpse  of 
human  joyousness.  Through  the  rich,  dark  hazle  depths  of  her 
eyes,  came  a  light  which  fascinated  the  beholder  with  a  magical 
attraction.  Opposite  to  these  two  persons,  who  will  be  recognised 
as  the  princesses  Tecuiclipo  and  Tecalco,  sat  in  the  same  beauti- 
ful c.^:;artment  in  the  Cavern,  the  majestic  figure  of  Malmiztic, 
and  kneeling  upon  a  heavily-fringed  cushion  at  his  feet,  was  the 
small,  quaint-shaped  dwarf,  with  his  classically  moulded  head, 
and  nut-brown  locks,  nestling  in  soft  folds  upon  his  white  brow 
and  neck,  looking  up  in  his  master's  face,  with  an  intelligent  gaze 
of  mingled  awe,  respect  and  love. 

Upon  a  rich  couch  close  at  hand,  lay  Guatemozin ;  his  noble 
and  beautifully-chiselled  features  were  relaxed,  and  his  com- 
plexion pale.  Over  his  large  black  eyes  a  languid  softness  was 
spread,  which  gave  a  dreamy  expression,  which  evidently  be- 
spoke recent  suffering.  His  left  arm  was  bound  across  his  broad 
chest,  and  carefully  covered  with  bandages  of  soft  cotton.  The 
drapery  of  the  couch  was  gorgeous,  consisting  of  light  and  ele- 
gantly-embroidered pieces  of  stuff,  formed  of  the  fine  fibres  of 
the  aloe,  dressed  with  much  skill,  and  ornamented  with  embossed 

flowers. 

(189) 


190  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

Malmiztic  and  Tecalco  wandered  away  through  the  long  halls 
or  chambers  of  the  cavern,  which  were  lighted  by  beautiful  lamps 
of  shining  silver,  stationed  upon  the  ledges  of  the  rocky  wall. 
At  a  considerable  distance  behind  them,  the  fair- faced  dwarf  came 
leisurely  along,  strumming  upon  the  chords  of  a  light  musical 
instrument,  a  sweet,  melodious,  but  plaintive  air. 

Tecuiclipo,  who  remained,  approached  the  couch  of  the  wounded 
Guatemozin,  and  seating  herself  at  his  side,  smoothed  back,  with 
her  fair  hand,  the  dark  locks  from  his  pale  brow,  as  she  said, 

**  The  fever  has  passed,  Guatemozin,  and  praised  be  the  spirit 
of  the  gods  that  hath  restored  thee.  Oh  !  Guatemozin,  my  heart 
had  almost  feared  to  hope,  when  I  saw  thee  breathing  hard  and 
heavy,  and  thy  dark  eyes  glazed  over  with  a  misty  film — when  I 
whispered  to  thee,  and  thy  lips,  though  they  moved,  returned  no 
answer  to  my  anxious  ear." 

*'Yes,"  replied  the  other,  "I  heard  thee,  Tecuiclipo,  as  in  a 
dream,  and  fain  would  have  spoken,  for  I  felt  amidst  this  strange 
dream,  that  the  hand  of  death  was  upon  me  heavily.  I  strove 
to  give  thee  a  few  fond  words,  the  last  I  deemed  that  were  left 
to  me  upon  the  earth,  but  I  could  not  utter  them  ;  in  vain  I  strove 
to  breathe  those  few  words,  and  oh  !  Tecuiclipo,  it  was  terrible 
to  part  without  one  farewell,  for  I  felt  that  if  thou  wouldst  promise 
to  meet  me  in  another  sphere,  that  I  could  die  happy.  But  all 
in  vain;  one  strange,  vague  vision  of  darkness  overspread  my 
mind,  and  all  was  gloom  and  oblivion.  I  knew  no  feeling  of 
good  or  ill ;  forgetfulness  closed  out  the  world  from  my  view, 
and  one  after  another,  every  object  of  my  earthly  remembrance 
faded  away  from  my  sight,  until  there  was  nothing  but  one  dark, 
oblivious  cloud  which  shrouded  everything.  It  seemed  that  my 
very  soul  had  fallen  into  a  deep  sleep,  and  there  was  not  even  a 
dream  or  a  thought,  all  was  a  blank,  saving  amidst  this  night  of 
shadows,  one  figure,  like  a  pale-winged  angel  of  light,  hovered 
over  my  body,  and  kept  its  constant  vigil  there,  like  a  mist- 
shroude  i  star,  palely  peering  through  the  sable  cover  of  night, 
and  t\sit  angel  form,  Tecuiclipo,  was  thine  !  and  oh !  as  I  gazed 
upon  it,  a  soothing  sensation  stole  over  me,  and  thought  by 
thought  came  back,  until  full  consciousness  was  restored ;  but 
yet  I  could  but  see  thee  as  that  angel  still — still  was  there  that 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF   THE    CROSS.  191 

soft,  sweet  light  hovering  about  thee,  and  that  gentle  look  of  love 
in  thine  eyes,  which  made  thee  seem  some  fair  visitant  from  ano- 
ther and  elysian  world.  But  now,  sweet  angel  of  my  heart,  that 
I  am  granted  the  bliss  to  speak  to  thee,  and  say  how  I  have 
thanked  thee  a  thousand  times  for  those  looks  of  love  and  light, 
I  feel  that  I  could  thus  breathe  out  my  blessing,  and  be  content 
to  die — yes  !  be  content  to  sink  once  more  into  that  strange  sphere 
of  shadows  and  darkness,  that  night  of  forgetfulness,  cheered 
with  the  hope,  that  far  beyond  that  shrouded  region,  I  should 
meet  thee  in  a  land  where  animated  souls  should  meet  to  know 
no  separation. 

**Nay,"  said  the  princess,  "thou  shouldst  not  think  that  I 
alone  have  watched  thee  in  this  hour  of  thy  affliction.  Malmiz- 
tic  hath  been  the  ministering  angel,  whose  guardian  eye  and 
skillful  knowledge  of  salutary  medicaments,  hath  snatched  thee 
from  the  very  verge  of  death,  and  placed  thee  once  more  among 
the  living  beings  of  the  earth.  Yes,  Guatemozin,  thou  shalt  live, 
and  thou  shalt  be  loved  as  never  mortal  man  was  loved.  I  will 
cling  closer  to  thee  than  the  shell  imbedded  in  the  rock.  Oh  !  I 
had  never  dreamed  how  I  loved,  yea,  hQW  I  adored  thee,  until 
thou  wert  almost  lost ;  but  now  again  I  have  thee,  and  thou  art 
mine  forever  !'*  With  these  words,  Tecuiclipo  bent  over  Guate- 
.     mozin,  and  impressed  upon  his  pale  hps  a  fervid  kiss. 

**  Heavens  !  what  a  thought  is  this  !"  exclaimed  he,  half  rising 
upon  the  arm  which  was  free,  "  what  do  I  remember  !  there  is  a 
gulf  between  us  forever — a  fearful  truth  breaks  upon  me — thou 
art  another's  ! — Cuitlahua  is  thy  lord ;  thou  art  his  bride,  the 
wife  of  his  faith  and  his  bosom ;  bound  to  him  by  a  pledge  re- 
gistered in  the  bright  mansions  of  the  moon,  and  guarded  by  the 
seven  angels  who  keep  watch  over  the  records  of  the  human 
heart." 

"Guatemozin,  rest  quiet,"  said  the  princess;  "rememberest 

thou  not  that  Cuitlahua  is  now  a  prisoner  confined  in  the  deep 

dungeons  of  the  ancient  castle,  by  the  stranger  foe  who  fill  our 

capital.     Of  late  I  bribed  his  keeper  with  heavy  bars  of  gold,  to 

1      lead  me  to  his  cell.     I  saw  him,  but  oh  !  how  changed !  and  he 

■     whom  I  had  never  loved,  now  moved  me  with  compassion  to  be- 

B.    hold.     Irons  and  darkness  had  not  broken  his  spirit ;  he  was  still 


192  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

proud,  unyielding,  and  defiant  towards  his  foes.  He  was  gaunt 
and  thin,  but  his  wild  eyes  were  full  of  fire,  as  he  spake  to  me, 
and  said, 

'* '  Tecuiclipo,  thou  hast  never  loved  me.  When  I  won  thee 
from  thy  father,  as  my  bride,  I  had  hoped  that  thou  wouldst  have 
forgotten  thy  former  feelings,  and  by  degrees  have  learned  to 
look  upon  me  with  a  more  kindly  eye.  I  had  hoped  that  the 
deep,  strong  love  which  I  bore  thee,  would,  in  time,  have  won  thee 
to  feel  those  ties  of  affection  towards  me  which  nature  did  not 
prompt ;  but  alas,  we  may  not  control  the  fine  emotions  of  the 
natural  impulses.  Thou  didst  obey  thy  father's  mandate,  and 
became  my  wife ;  yea,  my  faithful,  virtuous  and  submissive 
wife  ;  giving  obedience  where  thou  couldst  not  love  ;  yielding  es- 
teem and  reverence  with  loyal  duty  and  fidelity,  with  so  noble 
and  self-sacrificing  a  spirit,  that  my  own  heart  reproached  me  for 
severing  thy  holy  ties  of  aflfection  from  the  object  of  their  devo- 
tion. I  am  now  a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  a  relentless  and  un- 
feeling enemy,  from  whom  I  can  hope  for  no  compassion  or 
mercy ;  and  now  thou  art  with  me,  I  have  one  boon  to  beg ;  I 
can,  nor  will  longer  claim  thee  as  my  wife — be  free.  -  It  is  not 
fitted  that  thou  shouldst  be  a  captive's  bride ;  there  is  another 
who  loves  thee  with  a  love  worthy  of  thy  deep,  womanly  devotion ; 
go  to  him,  Tecuiclipo,  and  bid  him,  if  it  is  in  his  power,  to  give 
me  one  more  chance  to  strike  for  Tenochtitlan  !  if  he  can  rescue 
me  let  it  be  for  my  country's  sake ;  and  thou,  thou,  Tecuiclipo, 
shalt  be  his,  as  the  gods  have  intended,  and  even  if  fate  fixes 
me  in  this  spot,  he  may  still  take  thee  to  his  heart.  Come  life  or 
death,  freedom  or  chains,  Cuitlahua  resigns  thee,  Tecuiclipo,  to 
Guatemozin ;  his  noble  heart  will  make  amends  to  thee  for  any 
cold  neglect  of  my  uncouth  and  uncultured  bosom  towards  fhee. 
Bear  this  message  from  me  to  Guatemozin,  that  if  I  never  again 
see  the  light  of  the  goodly  day,  that  he  at  least,  will  hold  faithful 
to  the  honor  of  our  ancient  empire,  and  never  yield  it  to  the 
hands  of  stranger  foes,  while  there  is  an  Aztec  left  to  wield  a 
spear  or  a  shield,  between  the  realm  of  the  Otomies  and  the 
peaks  of  the  isthmus,  which  parts  the  rival  oceans.'  " 

"I  will!  I  will !"  exclaimed  Guatemozin  energetically,  starting 
half  way  up  from  his  couch  ;  **  Cuitlahua  must  be  saved  !     Bars, 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  193 

bolts,  chains,  stones,  nor  dungeon-depths,  shall  keep  his  glorious 
heart  in  thraldom  !  If  heaven  will  send  restoration  to  this  with- 
ered arm,  it  shall  strike  a  blow  3"et  for  Cuitlahua  and  Mexico ! 
and  thee,  Tecuiclipo,  thee!" 

While  this  conversation  had  occurred  between  Guatemozin  and 
Tecuiclipo,  Malmiztic  and  Tecalco  had  wandered  into  one  of  the 
distant  chambers  of  the  great  cave.  It  was  a  place  of  extraor- 
dinary natural  beauty.  The  vast  stone  ribs  of  the  world's  great 
frame  were  here  visible ;  layer  after  layer  of  granite  masses  were 
piled  upon  each  other  in  solid  and  stupendous  grandeur.  The 
vast  height  of  the  apartment,  and  the  immense  scale  upon  which 
the  hand  of  nature  had  here  wrought,  produced  within  the  mind 
of  the  beholder,  a  sense  of  man's  insignificance. 

**  Behold  !"  said  the  Toltec,  "how  the  great  Arhcitect  of  the 
Universe  builds  up  the  foundations  of  the  world's  outer  struc- 
ture !  Far  below  this,  he  hath  fires  feeding  themselves  on  the 
combustibles  in  the  earth's  huge  heart ;  these  vast  furnaces  burn 
away  the  clay  and  stone  crusts  of  the  monster  veins  and  arteries 
of  the  globe's  deep  vitals ;  torrents  burst  from  their  conduits,  and 
rivers  rush  roaring  into  lakes  of  fire  !  then  clouds  of  the  irresist- 
ible element  steam  arise,  and  ,the  bands  of  earth  and  rock  are  too 
feeble  to  constrain  its  might — wide  open  it  tears  its  terrible  way, 
and  the  solid  earth  is  shaken  to  its  centre  by  the  earthquake's 
convulsion,  and  while  Earth  cracks  from  its  surface  to  its  centre, 
whole  acres  sink  in  the  huge  gaps,  into  bottomless  lakes  of  gloomy, 
lifeless,  inky  waters;  or,  perchance,  upheaving  from  the  vast 
crypt  and  cauldron  of  the  central  furnaces,  a  fire  spout  of  the 
red  and  liquid  lava,  which,  boiling  over  the  white  peak  of  Popo- 
catapetl,  pours  in  a  sweeping  cataract  down  through  snow,  rocks, 
and  forests,  and  spreads  wide  in  the  valleys  below.  But,  Tecalco, 
the  Indescribable  God,  who  moves  this  wondrous  machinery  by 
his  agents,  the  elements,  is  not  less  mysterious  in  his  minutest 
work  than  that  which  seems  to  us  the  most  subHme.  In  the  wil- 
derness of  starry  worlds  which  float  through  heaven,  there  is  not 
more  harmony  and  order  than  in  the  law^  Vhicl?  govern  the  un- 
folding leaves  of  the  smallest  flower  which  opens  its  white  and 
red-laced  eye  to  gaze  out  at  the  great  golden  sun,  when  his  face 
illuminates  at  morn  the  mountain's  coronet.  So  does  this  great 
17 


194  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;     AND  ^ 

Spirit  operate  upon  our  elementary  principles  of  good,  and  regu- 
lating these  by  action,  comes  the  great  controlling  agent  of  the 
sill-powerful,  Reason — the  oracle  who,  sitting  in  the  sanctuary  of 
the  soul,  weighs  right  and  wrong  in  her  hands  as  in  even-balanced 
scTales.  His  mysterious  power  chains  us  by  sympathies  whose 
operations  are  inexplicable,  and  plants  within  our  hearts  the  pure 
passion  of  Love,  that  feeling  which  gives  mortality  a  foretaste  of 
heaven.  Oh,  Teealco  !  my  mind  hath  felt  noble  emotions  when 
drinking  at  th<  fountain  of  knowledge,  whose  sources  are  far  up 
in  the  mountains  of  Reflection — springs,  whose  exquisite  taste 
gives  the  soul  satisfaction,  and  yet  a  thirst  for  more — waters 
which  the  rude  world  only  drinks  of  when  it  has  lost  its  coolness, 
its  purity  and  freshness,  by  creeping  through  the  flat,  muddy 
marshes  and  canaJs  of  human  customs  and  human  vices.  But 
the  pure  fountair.  oi  the  heart  is  Love  :  it  is  compassless  and  infi- 
nite; it  is  the  first  great  attribute  of  God  himself — from  Him  it 
descendeth  to  the  lowest  link  in  the  chain  of  creation  ;  it  is  ami- 
versal  as  light,  pervading  animated  existence  from  an  atom  to  an 
angel  !  It  is  part  of  God's  own  being,  which  he  bestows  upon 
his  creature  man,  infusing  his  divine  essence  into  the  heart  of 
humanity,  whereby  man's  earthly  nature  partakes  of  a  heaveniy 
character.  Tecalco  !  all  the  deep  joys  which  I  have  felt  in  my 
life's  long  search  for  wisdom  have  never  brought  me  the  pure 
bliss  and  beatitude  which  have  arisen  in  my  heart  when  it  has  felt 
and  known  that  thy  yoi&ig  soul  leaned  upon  mine,  and  gave  its 
love  to  me.  Yea,  when  I  have  seen  in  the  hazel  depths  of  those 
eyes,  affection  looking  forth  into  mine,  like  a  water  fairy  gazing 
out  of  her  crystal  cave  in  a  shaded  lake,  I  have  felt  myself  no 
longer  companionless — the  wide  world  was  no  longer  lone  to  me. 
That  the  last  remnant  of  the  Toltec  race  had  passed  into  eternity, 
and  left  me  standing  by  myself,"  like  a  solitary  pine  upon  the 
summit  of  a  barren  mountain,— this  was  a  thought  which  no 
longer  left  me  desolate,  because  thou  hadst  sprung  up  like  a 
young  magnolia  by  my  side,  and  uplifted  the  white  blossoms  of 
thy  love  to  cheer  my  dark  canopy  above  thee.  Tecalco  \  thou 
hast  filled  a  wide  world  for  me  with  thy  single  presence,  even  as 
the  single  moon  fills  the  whole  sky  with  light.  Thou  hast  popu- 
lated the  deserted  mansions  of  my  heart — thou  hast  come  to  me, 


THE    CAVALlftRS    OF    THE    CROSS.  196 

as  I  have  strayed  among  the  tombs  and  ruined  temples  of  mine 
ancestry,  and  'mid  their  melancholy  lonelines^  thou  ha^t  cheered 
me,  when  my  hope's  bright  flower  was  paling  on  the  stem,  and 
when  I  have  stood  silent  and  solitary  beneath  the  sad,  gigantic 
palm-trees  which  towered  above  the  palaces  of  my  departed  peo- 
ple, and  I  have  felt  myself  the  sole  remaining  link  of  an  ancient 
race  left  upon  the  earth,  the  overpowering  thought  almost  crushed 
me  with  its  unutterable  sense  of  isolation.  No  father,  mother, 
brethren  nor  kindred — no  tie  of  blood  or  nation.  Back  of  me 
all  lies  buried.  The  dark,  voiceless  tomb  has  long  since  closed 
upon  the  last  of  my  race.  Idolatry  has  risen  and  reared  her 
temples  in  the  sacred  groves  where  erst  the  only  true  and  living 
God  .had  his  sanctuary  and  shrine.  Those  pure  and  holy  haunts 
of  heavenly  spirits  have  been  desecrated,  and  horrid  orgies  have 
succeeded  with  the  benighted  race  who  have  risen  upon  the  graves 
of  my  sires.  -Futurity  upon  the  earth  promises  no  brighter  vi- 
sion, no  gleam  of  golden  sunshine,  bursting  through  the  black 
and  gloomy  clouds  of  fanaticism,  in  the  span  of  life  which  will  be 
allotted  to  me — for,  Tecalco,  child  of  my  heart !  night  now  thick- 
ens over  this  Aztec  nation.  Stran<>-e  men,  with  false  ideas  of  the 
true  God,  are  now  in  our  midst — powerful  and  terrible  men, 
gifted  with  clear  minds,  but  bloody  hearts — turning  their  eyes 
upon  heaven,  but  their  souls  upon  gold.  For  years  I  have  urged 
upon  this  nation  the  God  of  love  and  truth,  but  they  hear  me 
not.  Their  kings,  who  should  have  wisdom,  are  misguided  by 
blind,  fanatical  priests ;  and  though  I  have  placed  the  lights  of 
learning  in  their  schools,  that  the  young,  uncontaminated  mind 
might  follow  the  paths  which  lead  to  wisdom  and  happiness,  these 
dark  sorcerers  of  idolatry  who  fill  the  temple,  raise  a  dark  cloud 
of  superstition,  and  all  are  gone  astray.  Thy  father,  to  whom  I 
have  so  often  prayed,  has  been  deaf  to  entreaty.  It  required 
no  prophet's  eye  to  foresee  the  evil  which  has  fallen  upon  him. 
In  vain  I  pointed  out  the  peril  in  which  he  stood,  but  sad  fatalism 
had  fixed  itself  upon  his  soul,  and  he  has  quietly  submitted  to 
become  a  sacrifice,  not  for  his  country,  but  for  his  fears — and 
now  bejfold !  in  a  night  the  noblest  men  of  all  the  land  lie 
slaugh^red,  and  the  triumphant  enemy  rests  undisturbed,  like 
the  panther,  which,  filled  with  blood,  returns  to  his  lair,  they 


196  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

quietly  retire  to  the  heart  of  our  capital.     There  they  keep  their 
stronghold,  and  they  will  yet  work  such  woe,  that  posterity  will 
tremble  when  their  fearful  tale  is  told.     Tecalco,  marvel  not  if 
this  vast  empire  be  scattered  like  the  loose  leaves  in  the  whirl- 
wind ;  marvel  not,  if  the  foundations  of  this  government  be  broken 
up,  and  a  new  kingdom  rise  upon  its  ruins.     There  are  a  few 
noble  souls,  whose  work  may  for  a  while  uphold  the  failing  fabric, 
but  alas !   the  structure  must  fall,  and  bury  even  its  defenders 
and  supporters ;  for  those  who  have  fastened  themselves  like  a 
poison-vine  upon  the  trunk  of  our  tree  of  empire,  year  by  year 
they  will  cling  closer,  and  clasp,  in  their  deadly  embrace,  branch 
after  branch,  until  vitality  is  gone  from  the  parent  stock,  and  the 
rank,  vicious  vine  of  Spanish  power  shall  flourish  in  green  vigor 
over  the  bare  and  blighted  palm  tree  of  Aztec  authority  !     But 
now,  Tecalco,  I  feel  that  all  my  efforts  for  thy  father's  sake  have 
been  of  no  avail ;  but  there  is  one  object  left  in  life  for  me  to 
devote  my  whole  soul's  love  to — one  upon  whom  I  could  concen- 
trate all  my  faith,  affection  and  care — and,  loved  one  of  my  soul, 
it  is  thyself!     Night  by  night,  when  the  angels  have  lighted  the  • 
starry  lamps  in  the  blue  halls  of  heaven,  I  have  wandered  forth 
alone,  but  thy  spirit  was  soon  by  my  side,  and  I  have  felt  happier,^ 
holier,  to  know  that  there  was  one  whom  I  could  love,  and  who 
could  love  me  in  return,  with  a  fervid,  deep  and  heart-thrilling 
love — a  love  of  boundless  scope — a  woman's  love  !      And  this 
thought,  Tecako,  made  me  contented  to  bear  the  evils  of  earthly 
existence  with  cheerfulness ;  for  a  voice  of  faith,  stronger  than 
the  oaths  of  a  thousand  oracles,  whispered  to  me  through  the 
chambers  of  the  heart,  that  there  would  be  a  time  when  abetter 
day  would  dawn  upon  us ;  that  if  this  earth  had  no  spotwhei-e 
happiness  could  make  her  home,  that  there  were  other  spheres  .in 
which  we  yet  might  dwell.     With  this  faith,  I- have  even  smiled 
at  the  thought  of  death,  fueling  and  knowing  that  after  this  load 
of  cares  and  clay  is  laid  down,  that  we  shall  rise  in  immortality 
of  substance  and  spirit,  clothed  with,  bodies  which  will  not  perish 
nor  know  the  ills  of  pain,  ever  progressing  towards  infinite  bliss, 
and  moving  towards  higher  and  happier  spheres,  forever  and 
foreVer — knowing,  that   in  the   innumerable  system  of  mighty 
,- planets,  there  be  scenes  of  such  wondrous  enjoyment  and  happi- 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  197 

ness  to  come,  that  the  dull,  common  mind  of  man,  engrossed 
with  mundane  matters,  may  not  compass  or  comprehend  their 
extatic  delights. 

"  Do  not,  dear  Tecalco,  deem  that  I  vaguely  surmise  as  a  wild 
rhapsodist,  whose  enthusiasm  bears  him  on  into  ideal  and  fanci- 
ful spheres.  No,  in  my  soul's  deepest  recesses  I  feel  that  high 
and  holy  faith  which  dispels  every  doubt,  and  to  follow  which,  all- 
the  terrors  of  death,  in  multitudinous  form,  would  not  make  me 
waver.  I  see  the  shores  of  the  sunny  land  of  heaven,  and  the 
sea  of  fire  which  surges  between  here  and  there,  with  its  canopy 
of  stifling  smoke,  is  no  barrier  or  check  to  my  course.  I  step 
into  my  shell,  my  boat  of  faith,  and  vainly  the  terrible  red  waves 
roar  around  me,  and  beat  my  scathless  bark.  I  pass  to  another 
realm,  and  thou  !  thou !  the  young  angel  of  my  hope  and  love,  to 
bear  me  company ;  to  lend  the  beauty  of  those  mortal  eyes  to 
light  the  shores  of  immortality,  and  make  Malmiztic's  memory  of 
earth,  a  joy  to  bless  forevei- !" 

During  this  long  speech  of  the  Toltec,  they  had  been  side  by 
side  upon  a  ledge  of  rock,  beautifully  cushioned,  and  overspread 
with  spotted  skins  of  the  ocelot,  and  at  some  distance  on  the 
other  side  of  the  vast  subterranean  chamber,  the  dwarf  was  play- 
ing^, a  wild  air,  which  echoed  through  the  hollow  vault  of  the 
cavern.  Tecalco  turned  her  bewitchingly  beautiful  eyes  upward, 
full  upon  the  dark,  shaded  orbs  of  the  Toltec,  as  she  leaned  con- 
fidingly and  affectionately  upon  his  broad  shoulder  with  one  arm, 
and  with  the  other  hand  pressed  in  the  broad  palm  of  Malmiztic, 
she  replied, 

"Look  not  so  sad,  oh,  Malmiztic  !« when  I  see  those  deep, 
►•  strllnge  eyes  grow  dim  and  melancholy,  I  am  miserable.  I  would 
ratlier  see  thee  in  thy  fiercest  mood,  when  they  blaze  in  their 
blackness  like  a  fife  by  night.  When  thou  art  gloomy,  a  cloud 
is  on  my  soul ';  I  have  no  sunshine,  save  in  thy  smile,  and  if  thou 
now  wilt  withdraw  its  radiance  and  cheerfulness,  where  shall 
Tecalco  turn  to  find  one  eye  to  light  her  lonely  way  ?  Malmiztic, 
till  late  I  had  a  world  around  to  love  me,  but  I  have  given  it  for 
thee  ;  .and  were  it  a  thousand  worlds  filled  with  an  infinite  host 
of  beings,  I  would  not  change  their  love  for  thine.  My  father  no 
longer  watches  me ;  he  loved  me,  but  he  would  have  given  his 


198  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC ;    AND 

child  to  that  hated  Spaniard,  that  cruel  Cortes,  whose  fierce  and 
fearful  eyes  were  revolting  to  my  sight,  and  at  the  touch  of 
whose  hand,  my  heart  recoiled  as  from  a  cold  serpent.  In  vain 
I  prayed  to  Montezuma  to  save  his  child ;  he  answered  me,  that 
his  country  needed  a  sacrifice  for  its  salvation,  and  that  to  save 
his  throne  I  must  become  the  Spaniard's  bride  ;  again  I  prayed 
him  to  spare  me,  but  he  reproached  me  with  base  ingratitude  for 
deserting  the  father  who  had  cherished  me.  At  that  moment,  I, 
wild  with  desperation,  bade  him  slay  me  on  the  altar's  top,  on 
the  block  of  sacrifice,  on  the  pinnacle  of  the  great  temple,  where 
the  eyes  of  thousands  could  behold  me  ofi'ered  up  to  the  accept- 
ance of  the  gods.  This  thought  appeased  him,  and  he  sent  for 
the  High-Priest;  but  deeply  dyed  as  the  robes  of  that  hypocritcal 
monster  were  in  blood,  he  had  not  the  heart  for  the  deed,  and  re- 
fused the  offering.  He  had  heard  and  told  my  father  that  thy 
precepts  and  faith  were  deeply  seated  in  my  soul,  and  that  if  the 
vengeance  of  the  Toltec's  god  were  roused,  some  fell  calamity, 
more  terrible  a  thousand-fold  than  legions  of  Christian  troops, 
would  overtake  them  all.  Again  Montezuma  came  to  me,  and 
bade  me  be  the  bride  of  the  cruel  Cortes ;  once  more  I  prayed, 
I  supplicated,  I  knelt  at  his  feet,  and  bathing  them  with  tears 
besought  him  in  the  name,  and  for  the  sake  of  my  dead  mother, 
to  spare  and  save  me  !  Entreaty,  plea  and  tears  were  all  in  vain ; 
he  bade  me,  under  the  penalty  of  a  father's  deepest,  bitterest 
curse,  to  be  the  Spaniard's  bride.  I  went  to  Cortes,  and  from 
^that  moment  all  the  thousand  natural  ties  of  parental  love  which 
clung  to  him  like  my  heart-strings,  were  snapped  at  a  blow.  I 
could  have  died  for  my  father  before  that  act,  died  without  a 
murmur  at  my  fate,  but  now  that  he  had  abandoned  me  to  a 
bloody  stranger,  because  of  his  cowardly  heart,  I  could  at  that 
moment  have  beheld  my  father  fall  at  my  feet  a  corse,  and  not 
have  shed  a  tear  !  He  had  deserted  me ;  he  had  cast  me  ofi", 
who  had  clung  to  him  with  the  love  of  a  hundred  children.  He 
had  sold  me,  his  worshiping,  idolizing  offspring,  to  the  foul  lust 
of  a  black-hearted  marauder,  and  all  from  fear !  base,  unmanly 
cowardice — vile,  heartless,  timidity  !  The  Spaniard,  cruel  and 
unfeeling  as  my  father,  but  not  so  criminal,  listened  not  to  my 
petitions  ;  he  laughed  at  my  prayers,  and  made  a  bitter  jest  of 


•  THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  199 

my  virtue.  God  of  our  faith  !  Malmiztic,  at  that  moment  I  was 
hopeless  ;  I  was  wild  with  phrenzy  ;  I  shuddered  with  horror  at 
my  perilous  position ;  my  soul  sank  like  an  ebbing  tide  within 
me,  and  my  terrible  master  gloated  over  me  with  a  savage  de- 
light. In  this  awful  moment  of  despair,  a  swift  thought  flashed 
over  my  brain,  and  I  prayed !  aye,  Malmiztic,  I  prayed  to  the 
God,  whose  holy  name  thou  hadst  taught  me  to  invoke,  and  oh  ! 
it  was  a  prayer  from  the  deepest  sanctuary  of  my  soul ;  my  heart 
was  upon  my  lips ;  though  I  spake  not,  my  supplication  was  not 
unheard,  for  then,  like  a  messenger  of  heaven  sent  to  rescue  me, 
a  form  appeared,  and  I  was  saved  !  That  form  was  thine,  Mal- 
miztic !  yes,  thine  !  and  from  that  hour  how  the  love  I  bore  thee 
has  grown,  expression  may  not  tell.  It  was  a  soft,  sweet,  glowing 
dream  before,  a  moonlight  of  the  soul ;  but  now,  it  is  all  the 
light  of  life  gathered  into  one  bright  spark,  illuminating  every 
portion  of  my^  being — a  light  which  leads  me  beyond  this  life, 
and  urges  my  soul  to  follow  thine  through  every  sphere.  A  love 
which  life  nor  death  may  sever ;  a  love  whose  existence  has  had 
beginning,  but  which  nothing  but  utter  annihilation  can  exter- 
minate. I  will  be  with  thee  as  the  evening  star  with  the  moon, 
the  shadow  with  the  substance,  the  echo  with  the  sound.  Where 
thou  musest  by  the  ruins  at  sunset,  I  will  sit  by  thy  side  to  muse 
likewise  ;  where  thou  mournest  or  art  touched  with  sadness,  there 
will  I  shed  the  sympathetic  tear ;  when  thou  art  lonely,  I  will 
cheer  thee,  and  when  grief  has  weio-hed  me  down,  I  will  lean 
on  thee  for  rest.  By  thy  dwelling  I  will  set  the  brightest  rose, 
and  at  the  portal  of  thy  palace  I  will  plant  the  pale  lilies,  which 
shall  bow  to  thee  as  thou  passest  them.  With  music  will  I  chase 
thy  melancholy  moments,  and  loitering  at  thy  feet,  will  tell  thee 
many  a  wild  tale,  until  they  are  grown  old  stories,  or  until  we  our- 
selves have  grown  old ;  but  we  shall  never  grow  old  at  heart ; 
the  happy  hereafter  will  forever  smile  upon  us,  and  the  evening 
of  existence  will  but  forerun  the  dawn  of  a  new  day.  We  shall 
be  happy,  Malmiztic  !  happy,  though  the  empire  crumble  to  ruins 
at  our  feet !  happy !  though  we  should  live  as  hermits  in  the  hol- 
low-buried palaces  of  thy  Toltec  forefathers,  yea,  even  though 
we  should  behold  the  strangers  plant  their  standard  in  the  halls 
of  our  kings,  and  the  image  of  their  worship  in  the  temple  of 


200  THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS. 

the  Aztec  idols.  We  at  least  will  put  our  trust  in  a  God  whose 
temple  is  indestructible,  and  to  whom  all  earthly  mutations  are 
as  simple  as  the  growth  and  fall  of  a  leaf.  Say  but  that  thou 
wilt  not  scorn  my  humble  love,  which  looks  up  to  thee  as  the 
flower  to  the  star.  Say  that  thou  wilt  not  deem  my  affection 
dross,  because  my  weak  woman's  mind  cannot  grapple  with  the 
great  and  mysterious  like  thy  giant  intellect.  Only  love  me  as 
kindly  ever,  as  now  thou  dost,  and  Tecalco  shall  find  her  heaven 
before  she  leaves  the  earth." 

"Light  of  my  life  !"  exclaimed  the  Toltec  with  enthusiasm,  as 
he  enfolded  in  his  arms  the  beautiful  creature,  whose  dark,  lus- 
trous eyes  were  upturned  to  his  countenance,  "spirit  of  my  hope  ! 
thy  pure  being  hath  imbibed  the  holy  religion  of  nature,  and 
made  thy  earthly  loveliness  to  me  become  a  thing  of  heaven  ! — 
Henceforth  trust  me  that  so  long  as  the  fingery  leaves  of  the  fern 
wave  themselves  from  the  ruins  of  Tezcozinco,  Malmiztic,  the 
Toltec,  will  have  thy  image  upon  his  heart,  plain  as  the  sculptured 
figure  of  his  forefather  engraved  on  the  massive  marble  which 
lifts  its  lofty  shaft  among  the  sacred  palms  \" 

The  head  of  the  fair  girl  dropped  upon  the  broad  bosom  of  the 
philosopher,  and  a  tear  started  to  each  of  his  dark,  mysterious 
eyes ;  they  were  pearls  of  price,  drawn  by  Love  out  of  the  fath- 
omless depths  of  the  heart. 


CHAPTER  XXI 


Cortes,  after  the  defeat  of  l!^arvaez,  proceeded  with  the  troops 
of  the  latter,  who  had  joined  his  own,  on  to  the  great  city  of 
Tlascala,  where  having  arrived,  he  was  hospitably  received  by 
Maxixcatzin,  the  old  chief  of  the  republic,  who  showed  him  every 
friendly  attention  which  it  was  possible  to  bestow ;  and  after 
seeing  the  troops  well  provided  for  in  quarters,  prepared  a  sump- 
tuous banquet,  upon  which  they  feasted  heartily,  after  the  toils 
and  hardships  of  their  expedition. 

Cortes  had  now  won  the  favor  and  confidence  of  almost  the 
entire  senate  and  people  of  Tlascala,  save  the  proud,  high-souled 
Xicotencatl.  In  him  the  deep-seated,  time-cherished  animosity  of 
the  Tlascalans  against  the  Aztecs,  was  no  less  great  than  his 
zealous,  patriotic  distrust  of  the  fierce  invaders  who  had  now  be- 
come the  allies  of  Tlascala.  No  persuasion  could  induce  him  to 
partake  in  giving  welcome  to  Cortes  and  the  Christians,  and  with 
a  few  friends  he  held  himself  sternly  aloof,  and  preserved  a  silent 
but  threatening  neutrality.  The  Spanish  general  now  broke  to 
Maxixcatzin  his  purpose  of  overthrowing  the  Aztec  empire,  and 
his  immediate  design  of  investing  the  capital.  This  news  met 
with  warm  sanction  and  hearty  approval  upon  the  part  of  the  old 
chieftain  and  his  adherents,  and  upon  the  strength  thereof,  they 
proffered  to  Cortes  the  entire  power  of  the  soldiers  of  the  repub- 
lic, together  with  all  the  munitions  and  provisions  of  war,  which 
the  general  might  require  ;  but  the  latter  declined  to  be  encum- 
bered with  an  unnecessarily  large  body  of  warriors,  whose  pres- 
ence might  naturally  excite  ill  blood,  and  engender  strife  which 
might  otherwise  be  averted  ;  but  he  nevertheless  had  the  troops 
of  the  republic  marshaled  upon  a  great  plain,  near  the  city  of 
Tlascala,  and  from  the  immense  body  of  warriors,  he  selected 
some  seven  or  eight  thousand  of  such  as  he  deemed  most  efficient; 
(201) 


202  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  J    AND 

these  in  combination  with  his  two  thousand  Spanish  infantry,  and 
one  hundred  horse,  he  proceeded  to  arrange  and  review,  in  true 
mihtary  style.  Little  time  was  required  to  make  the  well-trained 
Tlascalans  conform  to  the  evolutions  which  the  Christians  per- 
formed before  them  ;  but  notwithstanding  their  tractability,  the 
roar  of  the  park  of  artillery,  as  it  was  rapidly  planted,  and  moved 
from  place  to  place  in  the  field,  inspired  them  with  instinctive 
awe  at  the  remembrance  of  the  former  havoc  which  it  had  wrought 
among  their  warriors,  Avhen  Cortes  had  first  attempted  to  pene- 
trate their  territory.  The  terrific  power  of  the  cannon  was  now 
exhibited  by  directing  the  artillery  against  a  neighboring  grove, 
when  the  giant  branches  of  the  trees  were  shivered  and  torn 
away  by  the  tremendous  force  of  the  mighty  engines.  Every- 
thing necessary  in  the  equipment  of  his  army  being  now  prepared, 
Cortes  set  forth  through  the  district  of  Tlascala,  and  after  pass- 
ing its  confines,  once  more  descended  from  the  mountain  wall 
which  fenced  in  the  valley  of  the  lakes  to  the  mighty  metropolis, 
Mexico,  leading  some  nine  thousand  men,  with  which  he  entered 
the  city.  Almost  immediately  after  his  troops  were  bestowed, 
Cortes  sent  for  Alvarado  to  come  at  once  to  his  quarters.  The 
fiery  cavalier  was  prompt  to  obey  his  commander,  and  came 
boldly  up  and  addressed  him  with  his  usual  respect  and  freedom 
of  manner ;  but  Cortes  repulsed  him  with  a  savage  scowl  and 
demanded : 

**  What  is  this  which  I  hear — to  what  purpose  have  you  put 
the  power  with  which  I  entrusted  you  ?  In  what  manner  have 
you  supported  the  honor  of  the  church,  and  the  interest  of  your 
sovereign  ?  For  what  end  have  you  violated  my  imperative 
order  to  preserve  peace  ?" 

"To  save  your  Spanish  soldiers  from  becoming  sacrifices," 
replied  Alvarado,  coolly. 

*'A  foolish  fear,"  answered  Cortes,  "a  hasty  provocation  of 
the  ire  of  a  powerful  enemy  upon  a  shallow  and  unmeaning 
pretext." 

"Nay,  sir,"  said  Alvarado,  with  more  warmth,  "we  were 
menaced  and  threatened  by  danger,  and  was  it  for  me  to  wait 
until  the  foe  should  have  all  his  deadly  schemes  prepared  to  exe- 
cute before  I  roused  to  meet  it?     Was  it  for  me  to  sit  tamely  by 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  203 

and  see  these  sacrilegious  heathens  desecrate  the  image  of  the 
Virgin,  which  we  have  erected  in  the  neighboring  temple  ?" 

**  Nay,"  answered  Cortes,  **but  the  means  were  dispropor- 
tionate to  the  end — it  demanded  no  violence  to  defend  our  rights. 
If  redress  had  been  demanded,  it  had  been  granted  against  the 
offenders  ;  but  you  rouse  an  enemy  in  his  own  house,  by  taking 
the  law  in  your  own  hands." 

"  But  there  was  danger,"  said  Alvarado,  waxing  warmer, 
"great  danger,  close  at  hand,  insult  added  to  injury;  and  all 
around  me  I  saw  a  fearful  storm  brewing,  which  I  must  dissipate, 
before  it  burst  upon  the  heads  of  my  Christian  companions  ;  for 
their  sakes  I  felt  it  my  duty  to  strike  for  the  honor  of  the  cross 
and  Castile !" 

"Ay,  but  by  my  conscience  !"  ,said  Cortes,  using  his  peculiar 
and  most  frequent  phrase,  with  uncommon  vehemence,  **  It 
needed  not  that  the  earth  should  be  deluged  with  blood  to  effect 
this  end." 

Alvarado's  black  eyes  glittered  as  he  replied,  sarcastically, 
"Indeed!  I  knew  not  that  blood  was  so  abhorrent  to  you;  me- 
thought  it  was  your  favorite  pastime  to  sweep  whole  tribes  before 
you.  Slaughter  was  not  so  dreadful  when  you  slew  the  Cho- 
lulans," 

"  Fair,  open  war,"  answered  Cortes,  "is  not  midnight  murder. 
The  free  blade  of  a  Christian  knight  may  be  as  easily  drawn  to 
punish  as  defend." 

"  Then  where  lies  the  outrage  of  my  act  ?"  questioned  Alva- 
rado, and  his  handsome  face  grew  crimson  with  anger  and  ex- 
citement, as  he  spake. 

"Where  does  it  lie?"  exclaimed  Cortes,  violently,  "where 
does  it  lie  ?  In  the  foul  manner  of  the  deed  ;  in  the  darkness  of 
the  hour,  which  turns  honorable  conflict  into  black  assassination. 
Your  crime  should  blot  your  name  from  the  book  of  knights,  and 
place  it  among  human  butchers." 

"  By  Santiago  !"  shouted  Alvarado,  as  he  sprung  to  his  feet, 
hurled  his  glove  upon  the  floor,  and  drew  his  sword,  "  I  will  not 
hear  this  though  St.  James  himself  spake  it.  Mortal  man  shall 
not  taunt  me  with  cowardice  or  cruelty  unbecoming  the  honor  of 
my  order.     I  care  not,  Don  Hernando  Cortes,  though  thou  art 


204  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC ;    AND 

the  general  of  this  company,  I  at  least  am  a  Spaniard,  a  knight 
and  a  nobleman,  and  in  no  wise  thy  inferior.  I,  sir,  have  sup- 
ported thee  from  the  hour  that  thou  wert  compelled  to  fly  from 
Cuba,  and  this  is  the  grateful  reward  for  my  fidelity  ;  this  is  my 
reward  for  having  stood  by  thee  when  half  the  company  had 
mutinied,  and  thou  hadst  to  burn  thy  ships  to  save  thy  expedi- 
tion from  bearing  thee  back  to  be  beheaded  as  a  traitor.  There, 
there  lies  my  guantlet ;  accept  the  gage,  if  thou  darest  to  prove 
me  unworthy  of  the  cross  I  bear  !" 

A  bitter  smile  came  over  the  compressed  lips  of  the  politic 
Cortes,  as  with  a  rapid  efi'ort  he  reined  in  his  rising  passion,  and 
prudently  moderated  his  tone  of  reprimand,  when  he  saw  Alva- 
rado  wrought  to  the  extreme. 

"  Take  the  guantlet,  foolish,. rash  boy,"  said  he,  stooping  and 
raising  the  glove,  which  he  extended  to  the  other;  "put  up  thy 
sword,  though  it  be  rashly  and  indiscreetly  used,  it  shall  not 
prove  thy  valor  against  me  ;  for  I  like  thyself  have  no  name  to 
make  for  courage.  Reserve  thy  bravery  for  battle  ;  for  though 
I  have  been  sorely  grieved  by  thy  imprudence,  yet  I  bear  thee 
no  malice.  No  more  of  this — to  thy  quarters  and  thy  duties  !" 
so  saying,  the  passionate  but  prudent  Cortes  sank  back  upon  a 
lounge,  and  the  fierce,  black-eyed  Alvarado,  whose  brow,  late  of 
crimson,  was  now  marble,  passed  out  of  the  quarters  of  Cortes, 
involved  in  a  variety  of  contending  emotions. 

Cortes  now  made  his  way  to  the  presence  of  Montezuma.  The 
habitual  gloom  of  the  monarch  had  deepened  since  he  last  saw 
him,  and  it  now  contained  a  sort  of  desperation  which  was  clearly 
visible  to  the  observing  eye  of  the  Spaniard. 

"I  hear,"  said  Cortez,  ''that  since  my  departure  for  the 
coast,  thy  people  have  grown  perverse,  and  have  cut  off  the  sup- 
plies which  hitherto  they  have  furnished  to  my  soldiers." 

*'And  have  you  not  heard,"  said  Montezuma,  "that  the  vile 
slave  in  whose  care  thy  soldiers  were  left,  has  broken  all  faith 
and  treaty  between  us,  and  like  a  foul  vampire,  descended  by 
night,  and  sucked  the  heart's  blood  of  this  empire  ?  Yea,  stolen 
with  his  troop  of  ghosts  and  ogres  through  the  pallid  mooolight, 
to  a  peaceful  palace,  and  there  murdered  innocent  and  unpro- 
tected men — banqueted  upon  blood  in  their  festal  hall.     Yes, 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  205 

Cortes,  this  fiend  has  destroyed  the  flower  of  Aztec  nobility, 
without  cause  and  without  conscience.  Can  it  then  surprise  thee 
that  our  people,  shocked  by  the  enormity  of  this  deed  of  terror, 
should  fail  to  feed  these  vultures  ?*' 

"  Go  to,"  said  the  Spaniard  impatiently,  while  his  brow  con- 
tracted as  he  spoke,  **dost  thou  think  that  I  cannot  tell  thee  the 
evil  which  was  plotted  against  my  people.  Thy  dogs  deemed 
that  because  I  was  gone  to  the  coast,  they  would  seize  the  hour 
as  a  fitting  occasion  to  destroy  my  followers  who  remained  behind, 
and  I  now  say  to  thee,  that  unless  the  markets  of  this  city  are 
opened,  and  shortly,  I  will  make  such  havoc  with  thy  villainous 
legions,  as  will  make  the  work  of  Alvarado  seem  like  child's  play  ; 
and  mark  you,  Montezuma,  to  you  I  look  that  this  be  done,  and 
remember  well  that  if  it  is  not,  the  penalty  will  likewise  fall  on 
thee." 

The  Indian  girl,  Marina,  who  had  interpreted  the  conversation 
between  them,  had  now  but  little  need  to  express  their  meaning, 
for  Montezuma  had  almost  as  readily  caught  the  Spanish  language, 
as  Cortes  had  the  Aztec  tongue. 

"How  should  I,"  said  the  emperor  significantly,  **  be  able  to 
control  the  feelings  of  the  people  when  I  am  a  close  prisoner." 

"You  have  authority,"  replied  the  other,  "to  send  for  whom 
you  like,  and  you  may  issue  your  mandate  from  this  palace  as 
well  as  from  yonder  greater  one." 

"But  my  word  has  fallen,"  said  Montezuma;  "in  return  1 
have  no  longer  the  heart  or  control  of  this  people." 

"Then  who  has  ?"  questioned  the  Christian. 

"One,"  returned  the  emperor,  "who  lies  in  bondage  unde- 
served ;  one  that  I  now  feel  has  far  more  power  or  influence  than 
myself ;  one  whose  stern  spirit  all  the  pains  of  captivity  could 
never  crush  or  conquer — Cuitlahua,  the  prince  of  Iztapalapan." 

"Has  he  the  power  to  make  thy  people  furnish  food?"  ques- 
tioned Cortes. 

"He  has,"  replied  the  other,  "the  imperative  force  of  his 
character  will  command  that  attention  from  the  Aztec  people, 
which  will  insure  implicit  obedience  to  all  which  he  says." 

"Then,"  said  Cortes  suddenly,  "he  shall  go  at  large." 

"Aye,  let  him  pass  free,"  said  Montezuma,  "and  in  three 


206  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

days  thou  shalt  see  a  fleet  of  corn  filled  boats  coming  over  the 
waves  of  Tezcuco,  and  emptying  themselves  upon  the  banks  of 
every  canal  in  Tenochtitlan.  All  the  products  of  the  land  will 
be  poured  forth,  and  thy  people  shall  be  satisfied." 

**  Enough,"  said  Cortes,  rising  impulsively;  "I  will  test  the 
authority  of  this  same  Cuitlahua,  and  if  he  fail  me,  look  you  well 
to  the  consequences." 

Cortes  now  left  Montezuma,  and  hastened  to  the  dungeon 
where  the  prince  of  Iztapalapan  was  immured.  Upon  bringing 
him  forth,  Cortes  started  back  with  astonishment  at  the  fearful 
change  which  had  come  over  the  countenance  and  figure  of  the 
captive.  His  eye  was  hollow  and  sunken  ;  his  flesh  wasted,  and 
his  brown  complexion  grown  of  an  ashy  paleness.  Cortes,  after 
bidding  the  guard  strike  the  shackles  from  his  wrists  and  ankles, 
said  to  Cuitlahua,  in  the  language  of  the  country, 

"Depart,  and  see  that  in  three  days  this  city  be  filled  with  a 
plenteous  supply  of  provisions." 

Cuitlahua  answered  not  a  word,  but  passing  away,  turned  back 
his  black  and  spectral  eyes  upon  Cortes,  with  a  look  which  almost 
made  the  latter  incline  to  recapture  him ;  but  he,  notwithstanding, 
permitted  the  gaunt  Aztec  to  go  in  peace,  but  not  without  some 
singular  suspicions  or  forebodings  that  it  was  not  well  to  trust 
the  stern  Cuitlahua ;  however,  he  quieted  himself  by  the  reflec- 
tion that  he  yet  had  Montezuma,  and  him  he  could  make  answer- 
able for  the  default  of  the  other. 

The  morrow  verified  the  doubts  of  Cortes,  for  no  fresh  supplies 
came,  but  it  was  evident  some  fearful  disruption  was  near  at 
hand.  The  tall  figure  of  Guatemozin,  who  had  now  recovered, 
had  been  seen  with  the  fiery  Cuitlahua,  and  the  mysterious  Tol- 
tec,  moving  secretly  but  rapidly  through  every  portion  of  the 
capital.  Scouts  were  scouring  the  whole  neighboring  territory  ; 
masses  of  the  people  congregated  in  the  streets  and  public  places, 
and  all  the  signs  which  a  coming  diflSculty  could  portend  were 
everywhere  visible.  Pikes,  lances  and  slings  were  now  openly 
borne  in  the  streets,  and  the  glances  which  the  populace  gave  the 
Spanish  soldiery,  as  they  passed  by  the  Christian  quarters,  spoke 
as  plainly  as  words  could  express,  a  spirit  of  defiance.  Crowds 
hung  continually  upon  the  skirts  of  the  Christians  wherever  they 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  207 

moved  about  the  city,  and  the  menacing  air  of  all  the  inhabitants 
conspired  to  impress  upon  the  mind  of  the  commander  of  the 
Christians  a  firm  belief  that  a  revolution  now  threatened  the  Ca- 
valiers and  their  cause ;  but  the  chivalric  heart  of  the  plotting 
and  ambitious  general  was  not  now  to  be  shaken  by  a  surmise  of 
danger.  He  had  defeated  and  captured  his  enemy,  Narvaez,  and 
no  longer  dreaded  the  power  of  Velasquez.  Success  he  felt  cer- 
tain would  insure  him  popularity  in  Spain  with  Charles,  and  even 
serve  to  silence  his  enemy,  the  Bishop  of  Burgos  ;  and  the  golden 
treasures  of  the  Aztec  realm  he  believed  were  now  just  be- 
ginning to  burst  upon  his  vision,  in  all  their  untold  and  exhaust- 
less  richness.  Soon  he  confidently  calculated  to  return  to  his 
nafive  land  in  such  ■  a  blaze  of  magnificence  and  incomparable 
wealth,  as  should  make  the  highest  grandees  of  Spain,  or  even 
Europe,  seem  like  paupers.  He  already  grasped  in  his  mind 
means  which  would  purchase  principalities,  and  of  the  coming 
fortunes  which  he  beheld,  not  a  doubt  crossed  his  hope  and 
belief — the  realm  of  gold  was  full  before  his  vision — his  eyes 
already  measured  bars,  ingots,  and  suns  of  gold.  To  him  it  was 
no  dream,  no  vague  possibility,  no  doubtful  prospect  shadowed 
forth  dimly  in  the  future — but  a  real,  present,  actual  thing,  which 
was  close  at  hand,  with  a  mere  intervening  curtain,  which,  drawn 
back,  would  reveal  such  shining  and  immeasurable  masses  of 
treasure,  that  the  old  world  would  be  struck  dumb  with  wonder 
and  admiration — and  he,  Hernando  Cortes,  the  Croesus  of  the 
age! 

Thus,  ambition,  hope,  and  avarice  painted  upon  the  canvass  of 
the  time  to  come  a  gorgeous  and  delusive  mirage,  whose  waves 
of  silver  reflected  back  the  images  of  a  million  golden  palaces, 
fretted  with  flashing  gems,  like  countless  stars,  redoubled  in  the 
deep  !  But  yet  it  was  a  mirage,  destined  to  dazzle  for  a  while 
with  its  gilded  brilliancy,  and  then  fade  out  forever.  Cortes, 
however,  had  now  toiled  hard  to  gain  a  glimpse  of  this  promised 
land,  and  to  quietly  yield  the  object  of  his  ambition  was  not  in 
keeping  with  his  character.  Ever  vigilant  and  alert,  he  main- 
tained a  strict  guard  and  thorough  discipline  among  his  troops,  and 
studiously  compelled  the  strictest  observance  of  military  order; 


208  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  J    AND 

even  the  liabitual  exercise  of  the  grand  imposing  ceremonies  of 
religion,  which  had  no  less  the  effect  of  stimulating  the  courage 
of  the  soldiery,  than  of  mystifying  the  untutored  natives  of  the 
country. 

This  careful  system  of  discipline,  upon  the  part  of  the  Spanish 
general,  was  not  uncalled  for,  as  the  developments  of  every  hour 
evinced.  Swarms  of  natives  poured  into  the  city  from  every 
contiguous  country,  but  yet  the  character  of  the  market  was  not 
improved,  and,  as  this  was  the  subject  upon  which  Cortes  had 
shown  the  greatest  solicitude,  the  disappointment  was  no  slight 
source  of  annoyance.  That  an  outbreak  was  pending,  he  did 
not  doubt,  and,  therefore,  he  issued  orders  that  every  weapon  in 
the  Spanish  camp  be  carefully  examined,  and,  if  defective,  be 
repaired — using  extraordinary  diligence  to  see  that  the  horses, 
those  effective  and  terrible  causes  of  dismay  to  the  Aztecs,  were 
well  conditioned  and  supplied — and  no  old  commander,  in  the 
Moorish  war,  could  have  more  coolly  set  about  preparation  to 
resist  a  siege,  than  did  Hernando  Cortes  to  forestall  the  purposes 
of  the  people  whose  realm  he  had  usurped. 

The  exertion  of  Guatemozin,  Cuitlahua,  and  Malmiztic  was 
immense  ;  no  stone  was  left  unturned  which  could  excite  ire  or 
jealousy  against  Cortes  and  his  companions ;  and  especially  was 
the  ancient  grudge  towards  the  Tlascalans,  the  confederates  of 
the  Christians,  aroused  and  revived. 

Men  and  munitions  of  war  were  rapidly,  but  silently,  collect- 
ing ;  scarce  an  ancient  or  fortified  building  could  be  found  in  the 
metropolis  in  which  the  politic  leaders  of  the  native  people  had 
not  stored  an  armory  of  such  weapons  as  were  in  use  with  the 
inhabitants  of  the  valley,  or  the  warriors  of  the  surrounding  terri- 
tories ;  innumerable  stacks  of  maquahuitls,  lances,  pikes,  swords 
of  obsidian,  copper-headed  spears,  and  slings,  together  with 
incalculable  quantities  of  bows  and  arrows,  darts,  and  other  har- 
assing missiles,  filled  the  hidden  halls  and  subterranean  cham- 
bers of  the  mighty  piles  whose  granite  walls  loomed  up  in  solid 
grandeur  out  of  the  salt  waves  of  the  azure  Tezcuco.  Not  a 
grove  nor  a  woody  garden  could  be  found  in  the  city  in  whose 
shades  the  active,  energetic  Cuitlahua  and  his  associates  had  not 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  209 

addressed  the  multitudes,  with  that  burning  enthusiasm  which 
earnestness  communicates  from  the  orator  to  his  audience.  The 
feehng  which  had  hitherto  been  repressed  in  the  public  bosom, 
now  kindled  into  an  ardent  desire  to  return  upon  the  heads  of  the 
intruders  a  full  retaliation  of  the  late  cold-blooded  crime  which 
had  bathed  one  of  their  splendid  palaces  in  the  crimson  heart- 
floods  of  the  Mexican  nobility.  It  was  a  feeling  in  which  the 
popular  pulse  beat  as  the  throb  of  a  single  heart — the  impulse  to 
rise  and  throw  oflf  the  oppressive  weight  of  the  strangers  spread 
from  man  to  man,  as  the  kindling  flame  reaches  from  blade  to 
blade  of  the  brown  grass,  when  autumn  has  seared  the  prairie. 
It  was  the  gathering  of  the  grey- winged  clouds,  which  congregate 
in  dark  assembly  upon  peak  and  pinnacle  of  the  mountain  heights, 
until  their  collected  masses  darken  the  valley  with  their  shadow; 
and  even  like  the  tempest  cloud,  were  the  people  filled  full  of  elec- 
tric fire.  The  moment  was  now  at  hand,  when  their  vengeance, 
like  the  lightning's  red  dart,  should  flash  forth  and  bicker  over  the 
heads  of  the  Christians.  No  noise  accompanied  this  vast  prepa- 
ration ;  it  was  the  silent  mustering  of  mighty  elements,  the  noise- 
less approach  of  a  vast  power ;  not  even  a  muttered  discord  of 
coming  thunder  was  heard ;  even  the  low  murmurs  of  the  multi- 
tude grew  less,  until  it  became  a  deadly  quiet,  like  the  fearful 
calm  whose  awful  hush  for  a  breathless  space  precedes  the  out- 
burst of  the  hurricane. 

Cortes  was  now  to  meet,  for  the  first  time,  the  opposition  of 
the  Aztecs  in  their  own  city,  and  to  contend  against  a  people 
who  had  every  incentive  to  urge  them  to  battle  to  the  death ; 
men,  whose  religion  had  been  assailed,  whose  household  happi- 
ness had  been  broken  in  upon,  whose  monarch  had  been  made  a 
captive,  and  whose  nobility  had  been  ruthlessly  butchered  with- 
out provocation  and  without  redress. 

Strange  was  the  spell  which  had  withheld,  thus  long,  the 
revenge  for  all  this  multiplicity  of  wrongs  ;  but  though  the  web 
which  the  arch  magician,  Cortes,  had  been  weaving  over  the 
Aztec  empire,  like  a  spider's  toils,  was  now  to  be  broken,  yet 
still,  like  a  master  spirit  of  sorcery,  he  held  unshaken  the  confi- 
dence and  control  of  the  brave  band,  who  shook  their  swords  in 
the  face  of  danger  and  shouted  defiance  to  the  decrees  of  fate. 
18 


210  MALMIZTIC,  THE    TOLTEC,    ETC. 

With  these  men  and  his  own  soul's  lofty  ambition  to  spur  him 
on,  Hernando  Cortes  stood,  like  the  genius  of  knighthood,  all  in 
mail,  with  one  hand  upon  his  sword,  and  the  other  supporting 
the  blazing  banner  of  the  cross.  A  tournament  was  open,  and  a 
tilt  was  to  be  run — a  hemisphere  for  a  prize,  and  all  the  nations  of 
the  earth  for  spectators  !  If  chivalry  could  be  embodied,  he  now 
resolved  to  represent  it — for  Spain,  the  Cross,  and  Cortes ! 


CHAPTER  XXII 


It  was  in  the  latter  part  of  June,  in  the  year  fifteen  hundred 
and  twenty,  that  the  troops  and  allies  of  Don  Hernando  Cortes 
were  making  their  usual  march  around  the  great  city  of  Tenoch- 
titlan,  in  scattered  parties,  headed  by  Alvarado,  Sandoval,  De 
Olid,  and  other  captains,  who  came  forth  both  for  the  purpose  of 
guarding  those  who  furnished  them  provisions,  and  making  obser- 
vations upon  the  operations  and  movements  of  the  enemy ;  the 
result  was  that  they  found  the  troops  of  Mexico  in  arms  and 
headed  by  the  daring  Cuitlahua,  prince  of  the  opposite  city  of 
Iztapalapan,  and  now  the  acting  leader  and  governor  of  the  Aztec 
empire.  Upon  hearing  that  he  had  made  his  appearance  in 
public,  Cortes  dispatched  a  company  to  go  down  and  demandhira 
as  a  prisoner ;  but,  no  sooner  had  the  company  arrived  where 
he  was,  than  they  were  assailed  by  a  perfect  tempest  of  slings 
and  arrows,  insomuch  that,  in  spite  of  their  bi-avery,  the  Span- 
iards were  compelled  to  retire  and  report  to  their  commander. 
Cortes  immediately  selected  four  hundred  men,  and  without  delay 
marched  directly  upon  them;  they  were  occupying  much  the 
same  ground  as  when  the  other  party  retired,  and  prepared  to 
make  the  same  resistance  and  assault ;  but  Cortes,  with  his  reso- 
lute charge,  broke  in  upon  them  and  drove  them  all  before  him. 
When  they  fell  back,  he  ordered  his  soldiers  to  set  fire  to  the 
neighboring  buildings,  which  being  done,  drew  off  all  the  Aztecs 
from  the  fight  to  preserve  their  property.  Notwithstanding  this 
repulse,  they  continued  their  hostilities  shortly  after,  when 
Cortes  hearing  of  it,  sent  Captain  Ordaz,  a  brave  soldier  and  an 
efl&cient  engineer,  with  two  hundred  men,  to  disperse  them. 
Ordaz  was  not  long  in  effecting  a  confusion  among  the  enemy, 
which  was  followed  by  a  flight ;  he  pursued  them  until  he  had 
apparently  made  a  complete  rout  of  the  entire  party,  when  sud- 

(211) 


212  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

denly  Guatemozin,  with  a  fresh  body  of  Aztecs,  burst  out  upon 
him,  and  almost  instantly  surrounded  the  Spaniards. 

Ordaz  immediately  ordered  a  retreat,  but  finding  this  imprac- 
ticable, he  essayed  to  force  his  way  straight  onward,  when  he 
met  with  such  showers  of  arrows,  as  rendered  it  impossible  to 
proceed.  His  position  had  now  become  exceedingly  perilous  ;  he 
was  harassed  upon  all  sides,  and  every  effort  at  retreat  met  with 
the  same  rebuff,  added  to  which  the  missiles  of  the  foe  rained 
upon  them  so  thick  that  his  men  were  wounded  in  every  vulnera- 
ble point.  Ordaz  now  made  an  effort  to  gain  a  large  building 
close  at  hand,  and  had  almost  reached  the  doorway,  when  Cuit- 
lahua,  discovering  the  design,  rushed  boldly  forward  by  his  hosts, 
and  before  the  brave  Spaniard  could  gain  a  footing  upon  the  por- 
tal, he  found  himself  face  to  face  with  the  prince  of  Iztapalapan. 
Not  a  moment  for  hesitation  was  necessary  with  Ordaz  ;  he  dashed 
forward  at  once  and  attacked  the  chief  with  an  alacrity  and 
power  which  demanded  all  the  activity  and  skill  of  the  other  to 
defend  ;  but  Ordaz  pushed  his  pursuit  so  far,  that  suddenly  the 
Aztec,  followed  by  his  friends,  came  upon  the  bold  cavalier,  and 
despite  his  most  strenuous  efforts  to  maintain  his  ground,  he  was 
forced  back,  and  Cuitiahua,  following  up  his  advantage,  came 
suddenly  upon  the  Spaniard,  and  inflicted  a  wound  upon  him 
which  disabled  the  latter  sorely ;  his  companions  now  seeing  his 
perilous  position,  made  a  rush  for  a  rescue,  and  it  was  with  the 
utmost  difficulty  that  he  could  be  extricated. 

Ordaz  now  ordered  his  men  to  concentrate  themselves  in  as 
small  space  as  possible,  and  cut  their  way  out  at  all  hazards,  as 
their  situation  was  one  which  it  would  be  impossible  to  hold. — 
This  movement  was  successful,  but  not  without  severe  loss,  as 
eight  Spaniards  were  killed,  and  not  a  single  one  of  the  whole 
Christian  company  escaped  without  being  wounded. 

The  next  day  hostilities  were  renewed  and  upon  a  more  exten- 
sive scale ;  Cortes  brought  out  nearly  all  the  Spanish  power, 
leaving  only  a  few  cavaliers  and  the  Tlascalan  allies  to  guard  the 
quarters.  Guatemozin  had  arrayed  an  immense  host  with  stones, 
darts,  and  slings  along  the  roofs  and  parapets  of  the  houses, 
which  being  flat  aflforded  a  fine  field  for  harassing  those  in  the 
streets  below.     Cuitiahua,  with  an  immense  host,  held  possession 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  213 

of  the  chief  highways,  and  from  the  time  that  Cortes  came  forth, 
in  the  morning,  he  maintained  a  fierce  conflict  all  day  long,  re- 
treating and  forming  immediately  that  his  hosts  were  broken. 
Through  the  early  part  of  the  day,  though  the  Spaniards  carried 
every  equal  fight,  yet  Cortes  found  his  own  men  falling  in  such 
numbers,  that  even  the  terrible  onslaught  which  he  made  with 
the  enemy  would  not  justify  the  continuance  of  the  cOuuict  at 
such  a  cost. 

In  the  latter  portion  of  the  day,  the  Aztecs  seemed  to  have 
caught  a  new  spirit,  and  began  afresh  to  rain  missiles  from  the 
house-tops ;  clouds  of  arrows  and  darts  were  shot  down  at  the 
foe,  and  a  torrent  of  stones  of  tremendous  weight  were  hurled 
upon  the  heads  of  the  Spaniards.  As  night  came  on,  the  battle 
grew  less,  and  Cortes  retired  without  much  opposition. 

The  next  day  the  conflict  was  renewed  under  similar  circum- 
stances, but  with  more  terrific  consequences,  for  Cortes  saw  such 
havoc  made  by  the  enemy  that  he  ordered  his  artillery  into  use, 
which  terrible  engines,  when  brought  into  the  crowded  streets, 
poured  forth  their  hoarse  thunders  and  swept  down  innumerable 
hosts  of  the  astonished  Aztecs  ;  but  yet  they  yielded  not  in  their 
ardor — where  the  dead  fell*  the  living  crowd  filled  their  places, 
and  fought  with  such  heroic  firmness,  that  when  Cortes  retired  to 
the  palace  of  Axajacatl,  at  night,  fifty  of  his  brave  followers  were 
found  among  those  who  slept  the  sleep  which  knows  no  waking  ; 
and  though  he  had  filled  the  streets  with  the  bodies  of  the  Aztecs, 
he  felt  that  there  was  not  much  gain  to  the  Christian  cau^e,  and 
that  it  would  be  impossible  to  proceed  successfully,  so  long  as  his 
troops  could  be  harassed  from  the  house-tops,  or  his  cannoniers 
be  annoyed  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty,  by  having  immense 
clouds  of  arrows,  javelins,  and  huge  stones  hurled  upon  their 
defenceless  heads.  He,  therefore,  ordered  his  artificers  to  under- 
take the  erection  of  certain  great  wooden  houses  upon  wheels, 
which  were  called  mantas ;  of  these,  in  a  few  days,  three  were 
constructed,  which  all  confidently  calculated  would  obviate  the 
difficulties  under  which  they  had  hitherto  labored.  These  mantas 
were  so  arranged,  that  through  the  port-holes,  which  were  upon 
all  sides,  the  muskets  could  be  directed  either  upon  the  enemy  in 
the  streets  or  upon  the  parapets  ^.i^id  roofs  of  the  houses.     To 


tl4  MALMIZTIO,    THE   TOLTEC  ;    AND 

these  buildings  were  attached  lori^  ropes,  by  which  they  could  be 
drawn ;  and  in  this  business  Cortes  employed  a  large  body  of  his 
Tlascalan  allies,  who  readily  entered  in  this  duty,  they  being  de- 
sirous to  engage  with  their  old  enemies  in  any  manner ;  and  with 
these  huge  machines  the  Spaniards  and  their  confederates  sallied 
forth. 

The  Mexicans,  for  a  time,  were  terribly  annoyed  by  these  ingeni- 
ous artifices,  their  javelins  and  arrows  falling  harmlessly  on  the 
roof,  while  the  musketeers  and  crossbowmen  from  within  let  fly 
their  well-aimed  bolts  and  shafts  with  tremendous  execution ;  and 
thus  the  multitude  of  soldiers,  upon  the  part  of  the  Aztecs,  instead 
of  being  useful  and  serviceable,  only  formed  a  greater  and  more 
conspicuous  mark  for  the  eyes  of  their  opponents ;  but  the  suc- 
cess of  these  machines,  in  a  few  days,  became  very  equivocal,  for, 
as  the  Spaniards  passed  from  one  quarter  of  the  city  to  another, 
storming  every  habitation,  from  the  peasant  hut  to  the  palace,  as 
they  passed  ;  the  quick-eyed  Toltec  suggested  a  scheme  of  attack 
upon  them  to  Cuitlahua,  who  readily  adopted  it,  which  was,  by 
night,  to  obtain  some  huge  stones  from  the  ruins  of  old  temples 
hard  by,  and  lay  them  upon  the  roofs  of  the  houses.  In  the 
morning,  when  the  Tlascalans  came  ■  shouting  wildly  as  usual, 
and  drawing  after  them  by  the  ropes  the  mantas,  they  were  sud- 
denly surprised  by  hearing  such  huge  masses  of  rock  come  thun- 
dering down  as  to  crush  in  the  tops,  and  leave  those  occupants, 
who  were  not  wounded,  exposed  to  the  galling  storm  of  arrows 
which  were  poured  in  upon  them  from  every  surrounding  roof. 

Cuitlahua  now  proceeded  to  destroy  some  of  the  bridges  which 
were,  here  and  there,  across  the  various  causeways  which  entered 
the  city,  after  crossing  the  lake  from  the  main  land.  No  sooner 
had  Cortes  heard  of  this  attempt  upon  the  bridges,  than  he  at 
once  proceeded  in  the  morning  to  dislodge  the  enemy  from  their 
position,  but  the  resistance  of  the  Aztecs  was  so  obstinate  that  he 
was  not  able  to  cross  a  single  bridge  by  midday ;  upon  this 
failure,  he  returned  with  some  discomfiture,  to  his  quarters. 

Thus  day  after  day  dawned  and  departed,  and  the  streets 
would  blush  with  blood.  One  day  it  would  consist  of  light  skir- 
mishing ;  and  the  next,  of  the  more  sanguinary  conflict,  where 
the  thousands  of  Aztecs  would  pour  forth,  in  multitudinous  mass 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  216 

darkening  the  streets  and  highways,  and   sending   clouds  of  ar- 
rows against  the  steel  bonnets  of  the  Christians. 

Day's  silver  eye  opened,  and  the  shout  of  awakening  warriors 
would  be  heard  ringing  throughout  the  capital.  The  yellow 
noon  would  find  the  warriors,  clad  in  their  armor  of  dried  hides 
and  skins  of  wild  beasts,  rushing  on  with  their  shields  and  shin- 
ing itzli  blades  against  the  well-clad  Spaniards,  who  would  roll 
back  their  dense,  dark  masses  like  the  volumes  of  smoke  from' 
the  great  thunder  guns  of  the  Europeans  :  and  when  the  sable 
Night  drew  her  star-dotted  veil  over  the  heavens,  troop  after  troop 
of  the  native  hosts  would  disappear  in  the  shadows  of  the  dusk, 
and  the  hoarse  hum  of  conflict  would  be  hushed,  until  the  grey 
light  again  glimmered  in  the  east,  when  once  more  they  would 
renew  the  sanguinary  scenes  of  the  past  day. 

Montezuma  had  watched  the  progress  of  these  things  from  the 
roof  of  the  palace  wherein  he  was  confined,  and  no  cessation 
seemed  likely  to  occur ;  still  the  dusky  tide  of  warriors  poured 
into  the  city  and  still  assault  and  resistance  raged.  In  vain  the 
emperor  represented  the  imprudence  of  remaining  to  Cortes  ;  but 
the  latter  pleaded  the  impossibility  of  retiring  while  such  fiery 
attacks  were  likely  to  follow  his  footsteps,  for  now,  daily,  instead 
of  declining,  the  uproar  increased  fearfully,  and  as  soon  as  a  party 
of  Christians  would  make  their  appearance,  they  would  be  in- 
stantly assailed  by  the  Aztecs,  who  filled  every  highway,  lane, 
and  avenue. 

At  length,  after  many  days  of  this  vascillating  success  upon 
the  part  of  the  contending  hosts,  Cuitlahua  gathered  his  thou- 
sands together,  until  the  mighty  assemblage  thronged  every  open 
space,  park,  public  ground,  thoroughfare,  and  sidewalk ;  and 
when  the  shells  and  horns  sounded,  and  the  wild  atabals  brayed 
forth  thrilling  peals,  which  echoed  through  the  valley,  the  myriads 
moved  forward  along  the  streets  where  Cortes  had  torn  the  beautiful 
fronts  of  proud  palaces  away  with  the  destructive  battery  of  his 
cannon,  where  the  snow-white  walls  of  plaster  which  glittered  in 
the  sunshine,  were  now  blackened  and  defaced  by  the  smoke  of 
the  powder,  and  the  tremendous  force  of  the  balls. 

Again  the  roar  of  conflict  swelled  loud  upon  the  gale,  and  the 
Christians  in  the  streets  led  on  their  thousands  of  Tlascalan  allies 


216  MALMIZTIC,    THE   TOLTEC  ;    AND 

against  the  myi'iads  of  Mexico.  Loud  and  more  lotid  rose  the 
storming  cries  of  the  Aztecs,  mingled  with  the  stunning  hum  and 
wild  discordance  of  the  martial  instruments.  No  sooner  had 
they  approached  the  Christians  and  their  'confederates,  than  up 
rose  a  cloud  of  arrows  and  javelins,  which  shadowed  the  sun- 
shine like  an  innumerable  flock  of  wild  pigeons,  roaring  as  they 
rise,  and  darkening  the  daylight  with  their  countless  wings. 

The  Christians  and  Tlascalans  returned  the  sharp  attack,  and 
in  a  short  time  the  rattle  of  spears  upon  shields,  the  clang  of 
maquahuitls,  the  twang  of  bows  and  crossbows,  were  heard  con- 
fused with  loud,  rolling  volleys  of  musketry,  and  the  din  of  battle 
swelled  higher  and  louder,  as  some  adventurous  chieftain  or  leader 
would  work  some  prodigy  of  daring  valor. 

Crowd  clashed  with  crowd,  and  the  black  sea  of  heads  would  rise 
and  fall  as  the  multitude,  like  vast  billows,  advanced  or  recoiled ;  to 
and  fro  they  swayed  for  hours,  heaving  back  and  beating  on- 
ward, like  an  agitated  ocean,  the  living  taking  no  heed  of  the 
dead  in  their  rushing  progress  over  them,  and  a  reckless  disposi- 
tion to  plunge  into  the  midst  of  the  foe  appeared  on  both  sides. 

After  a  time,  the  buildings  around  the  combatants  began  to 
blaze,  and  throw  forth  lurid  tongues  of  flame  ;  and  in  the  midst 
of  the  fearful  tumult,  the  emperor  Montezuma  appeared  upon  the 
terrace  of  the  palace  ;  he  was  attended  by  four  noblemen  of  his 
suite,  and  from  his  position  he  commanded  a  full  view  of  the 
entire  street  where  the  parties  were  engaged.  The  emperor  was 
arrayed  in  the  most  magnificent  manner ;  his  splendid  dress  of 
snowy  white  and  sky  blue  blazed  with  the  brilliant  lustre  of 
sparkling  jewels ;  upon  his  brow  gleamed  the  gorgeous  diadem 
of  empire,  the  gold  and  gem-glittering  crown  of  the  Aztec 
monarch;  supported  by  his  attendant  officers,  he  approached 
upon  the  flat  roof,  the  parapet  of  the  palace  wall,  from  whence 
he  could  behold  the  vast  sea  of  upturned  faces  below,  and  be  by 
them  seen  in  return.  Having  reached  this  conspicuous  spot,  he 
lifted  aloft  in  his  right  hand  the  golden  sceptre,  the  symbol  of 
sovereignty,  and  instantaneously  the  wild,  loud  roar  and  confusion 
of  battle  was  hushed,  and  all  became  deadly  still.  It  was  a  fear- 
ful and  breathless  silence,  which  seemed  almost  like  a  miracle  in 
its  sudden  change  to  stillness  from  the  tempestuous  tumult  of  the 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  217 

preceding  moment ;  the  pulse  of  the  vast  crowd  seemed  to  stand 
still,  and  not  a  sound  could  be  heard,  save  now  and  then  the 
deep,  low  groans  of  the  dying  and  wounded,  who  were  scattered 
around,  would  come  up  like  a  sigh  or  wailing  voice  from  the  pre- 
cincts of  the  grave. 

"My  people,"  the  emperor  began,  in  a  weak  but  singularly 
distinct  voice,  **my  children,  and  my  faithful  subjects,  hear  me 
calmly  and  dispassionately — hear  me  for  the  sake  of  yourselves 
and  Mexico — hear  me  for  your  love  of  the  ancient  kings  of  Te- 
nochtitlan,  and  your  affection  for  your  country,  your  homes,  and 
your  families :  You  are  deluging  this  glorious  city  in  your  own 
hearts'  blood ;  you  are  making  the  walls  of  your  dwellings  blush 
crimson  with  unholy  slaughter ;  you  are  murdering  your  wives 
and  your  babes,  mercilessly  and  uselessly  ;  you  have  frightened 
the  dove  of  peace,  which  was  building  her  nest  by  our  lake 
shore,  and  unloosed  the  zopilote  and  the  night  raven  to  feed  upon 
the  corses  of  your  children.  Day  after  day,  you  have  seen  your 
brothers  fall  dead  at  your  feet,  and  you  have  beheld  the  homes 
of  your  sires  battered  to  ruins  by  the  engines  of  your  enemy. 
How  long  must  this  last  ?  When  shall  this  madness  know  cessa- 
tion? When  shall  this  wolf  of  slaughter  have  sated  himself 
with  the  blood  of  my  lambs  ?  What  would  you  have  ? — the  enemy 
to  evacuate  our  city  ?  He  is  already  pledged  to  do  so,  and  I  have 
promised  him  that  he  and  his  allies  should  pass  in  peace.  But 
lo !  if  he  but  sally  forth  to  pass  the  bridges,  countless  warriors 
rush  upon  him,  and  strive  to  stay  his  troops.  My  word  has  been 
broken,  my  plighted  faith  to  him  you  have  violated  ;  you  have 
refused  the  promised  supplies,  and  thereby  prevented  me  from 
returning  among  you,  knowing  that  my  word  and  honor  were 
forfeited  to  the  stranger  by  your  most  rash  and  foolish  act. 
Hearken  unto  me,  oh,  my  people  and  children  !  be  guided  by  my 
counsels,  I,  who  have  so  often  led  your  victorious  armies  through 
every  tribe  and  nation  between  the  sandy  shores  of  our  eastern 
gulf  and  the  lands  against  which  the  old  giant  Pacific  leans  his 
heaving  breast.  Mark  my  plain  advice — disband  your  countless 
horde  of  warriors,  whose  wild  rage  is  making  Tenochtitlan  a 
desert  for  the  wolf  to  roam  through,  a  ruin  for  the  owl  to  hoot 
from.  Disperse  to  your  homes,  and  hear  no  longer  the  maddening 
19 


218  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

words  of  those  who  lead  you  into  this  most  suicidal  act,  and 
urge  you  on  to  make  a  wreck  of  this  realm,  which  late  was  all 
so  happy  and  so  free.  Heed  not  their  tongues ;  their  words  will 
lead  you  all  astray,  like  the  false  light  of  the  marsh  spirit ;  but 
cease  this  disgraceful  clamor  and  carnag<},  whose  fearful  out- 
burst shakes  the  mighty  towers  of  our  island  metropolis  to  their 
lake-laid  foundations.  Return  to  reason,  and  abandon  these  rash 
and  desperate  men,  who  would  light  the  torch  of  war  on  every 
peaceful  home  in  this  wild  empire.  Once  more,  I  conjure  you, 
as  you  love  your  king,  your  father,  your  realm,  and  your  capital, 
let  all  this  rage  subside.  If  you  would  once  more  see  me  at  the 
head  of  my  people,  whom  I  love,  surrounded  by  wise  counsel- 
lors in  my  chamber,  and  a  happy  people  throughout  my  empire, 
desist  from  this  most  dreadful  and  disastrous  war,  or  behold  your 
lovely  realm  a  desert  waste,  your  cities  blackened  and  burnt  ruins, 
your  warriors  corses,  your  children  slaves,  and  your  broken- 
hearted king  a  captive  forever." 

No  sooner  had  the  emperor  ceased,  than  a  form,  which  towered 
far  above  the  crowd,  strode  forth  from  amidst  the  silent  and 
countless  multitude  ;  he  was  dressed  in  complete  armor  of  copper, 
which  flashed  in  the  sunlight,  and  over  his  shoulders  fell  a  gor- 
geous surcoat  of  superb  featherwork,  and  the  figure  of  the 
"dropping  eagle,"  upon  his  splendid  helmet,  told  the  beholder 
that  this  was  Guatemozin.  As  he  came  boldly  forward,  with  a 
glittering  javelin  in  one  hand,  and  a  burnished  shield  upon  the 
other  arm,  involuntary  exclamations  of  admiration  burst  from  the 
lips  of  the  Spanish  cavaHers,  as  they  gazed  upon  his  proud,  erect 
figure  advancing,  while  his  raven-hued  masses  of  hair  rolled 
down  upon  his  fair,  athletic  neck ;  his  face  was  sad,  but  filled 
with  inexpressible  nobleness  and  manly  beauty  ;  beneath  his  pale, 
broad  brow  his  bright,  black  eyes  burned  with  seraphic  brilliancy, 
as  with  his  sonorous,  clarion-like  voice  he  replied  to  the  emperor, 
with  upturned  eyes : 

.  "Men  of  Mexico,  and  Montezuma,  my  uncle,  I  have  a  few 
words  to  say  in  roturn  to  your  harangue :  Yes,  Montezuma,  to 
you  I  will  first  address  myself.  There  was  a  time  when  it  was 
an  honor  to  the  empire  to  claim  thee  as  its  potent  head ;  there 
was  a  time  when  bravery  made  thy  name  a  spell  to  awe  the  foe. 


THE    CAVALIERS   OF   THE    CROSS.  219 

when  thy  judgment  made  the  snowy  heads  in  council  bow  assent 
to  hear  thy  wisdom  spoken  ;  there  was  a  time  when  all  the  vast 
machinery  of  government  under  thy  supervision,  moved  with 
power  and  precision,  and  every  department  of  the  mighty  state 
performed  its  functions  as  harmoniously  as  the  order  of  the  seasons 
and  the  stars  ;  justice,  seasonably  tempered  with  humanity,  pre- 
served the  humble  and  the  poor  from  the  evils  of  oppression,  the 
nobility  treated  the  laborer  with  kindness,  and  the  laborer  returned 
it  by  respect ;  men  of  all  ranks  loved  each  other,  for  their  com- 
mon country  was  a  bond  which  linked  their  hands  together ;  a 
smiling  plenty  scattered  the  fruits  of  peace  and  contentment 
throughout  the  broad  domain ;  the  wide  lands  bloomed  in  the  sun- 
shine of  happiness.  In  a  fatal  hour,  this  serpent  from  the  east 
crept  into  our  Elysian  vale  ;  his  blighting  breath  withered  all  the 
green  lands  as  he  passed — that  breath  was  sulphurous  smoke,  and 
his  voice  the  hoarse  thunder  gun — his  scales  the  iron  mail  of 
armed  men  ;  devastation  blackened  his  pathway  from  the  coast 
to  Tlascala.  We  saw  the  monster  approach ;  we  saw  his  huge 
folds  close  upon  Tlascala  and  crush  her — but  Montezuma  moved 
not.  We  saw  the  fierce  reptile  rush  upon  Cholula,  and  flourish 
his  crimson  crest  over  her  smoking  ruins  and  massacred  thou- 
sands, towering,  in  bloody  triumph,  over  her  sacred  temples. 
Clotted  with  gore,  on  came  the  destroying  monster — but  still 
Montezuma  stirred  not,  save  with  a  resistance  like  a  reed  against 
the  hurricane.  At  length,  the  increasing  serpent  moves  its  huge 
folds  onward,  until  its  arching  neck  overlooks  from  the  mountain 
wall  the  valley  of  beauty  below ;  its  broad  eyes  gloat  and  glitter 
over  the  scene,  and  anon  its  gorgeous,  many-hued  body  is  seen 
to  wind  down  from  the  heights,  through  dells  and  ravines, 
making  the  dark  woods  brilliant  with  its  burnished  armor ;  and 
lo !  with  its  haughty  crest  erect,  its  voluminous  folds  came  swell- 
ing up  the  vale  towards  the  cherished  city  and  home  of  our 
hearts.  Where  is  Montezuma  ?  Comes  he  out  with  a  legion  to 
assail  the  terrible  enemy  ?  Calls  he  upon  every  province  in  the 
realm  to  rush  to  the  rescue  ?  Leads  he  the  host  who  go  to  meet 
the  monster  in  their  might,  or  die  defending  what  they  could  not 
save  ?     No,  Mexicans,  no  !  Montezuma,  cowardly  and  trembling, 


220  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

shrank  back,  his  white,  bloodless  heart  quailed  and  quivered,  and 
the  hand,  once  so  stout  to  scatter  the  strongest  foe,  now  quaked 
with  craven  cowardice,  and  from  servile  fear  led  this  monster  with 
a  kiss  into  our  capital,  and  made  the  habitations  of  our  ancestors 
his  home.  Need  I  point  to  the  serpent  ?  He  coiled  in  yon  palace  ; 
he  burst  forth  upon  the  city — and  behold,  it  is  a  ruin  !  His  pesti- 
lent breath  has  blighted  every  green  hope  of  happiness  or  flower 
of  peace  ;  he  has  darted  forth  his  venomous  tongue  armed  with 
the  red  lances  of  the  forked  lightning,  and  lo !  a  black  cloud  en- 
velopes the  lakes  and  the  land,  and  death  strikes  myriads  dead 
in  the  street.  Men  of  Mexico,  shall  I  show  you  the  weak  and 
craven  soul,  which,  for  its  own  safety,  has  sold  an  empire  ?  Shall 
I  show  you  the  serpent  ?  Behold  the  Spaniards  and  their  confede- 
rates !  Shall  I  show  you  the  coward  and  traitor,  the  black- 
hearted traitor,  who  has  filled  your  dwellings  with  the  mournful 
wail  of  widows,  and  the  lone  cries  of  fatherless  babes — the  fiend 
who  has  robbed  many  a  poor  old  father  of  his  only  son,  the  cher- 
ished hope  and  support  of  his  feeble  and  failing  years  ?  Shall  I 
show  you  the  lord  whose  act  made  one  horrid  sacrifice  of  all  the 
noblest  born  in  the  wide  land,  one  dreadful  sweep  of  fell  assas- 
sination of  every  ancient  house  of  Mexico  ?  Behold  him  on  yon 
terrace,  he  who  was  once  Montezuma !  once  the  monarch  of  the 
Aztec  empire  !  once  the  beloved  of  all  his  people  !  once  my 
uncle  !  of  whom  my  heart  was  proud,  whose  beck  was  the  man- 
date of  a  million — now  the  vile  slave  who  cringes  at  the  Chris- 
tian's feet,  lays  down  his  crown  and  delivers  the  sceptre  of  empire 
into  the  hands  of  Cortes !  Men  of  Mexico,  you  are  all  sold  I 
slaves  to  the  Spanish  host  who  holds  yon  citadel !  sold  by  yon 
trembling,  treacherous  traitor !  Gods  of  my  sires  !  is  there  no 
hand  to  hurl  him  from  yon  height  ?  is  there  no  arm  to  strike 
the  traitor  dead  ?  Yes,  land  of  my  birth,  there  is  a  blow  reserved 
for  the  freedom  of  Mexico — and  Montezuma's  heart !" 

With  this  the  glittering  javelin  was  poised,  and  flew  flashing 
aloft  from  Guatemozin's  hand,  and,  with  unerring  aim,  the  fatal 
barb  pierced  the  pale  monarch,  and  he  fell  into  the  arms  of  his 
courtiers  in  attendance.  A  yell  arose  from  the  swarm  of  Aztecs 
in  an  instant,  and  a  shower  of  stones  and  arrows  poured  upon  the 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  221 

king ;  a  body  of  Christians  rushed  forward  in  the  midst  of  the 
pelting  storm,  and  throwing  their  shields  as  a  cover  over  the  un- 
fortunate monarch,  bore  him  hastily  out  of  sight  and  the  reach 
of  danger. 

Again  the  roaring  din  of  battle  rose,  and  the  dusky  warriors 
of  Tlascala  clashed  in  conflict  with  the  Mexicans,  while  here  and 
there  a  handfull  of  Christians  would  be  holding  equal  combat 
with  a  host  whose  numbers  would  be  countless;  and  thus,  with 
sharp  assaults,  bold  defences,  and  flying  skirmishes,  the  day  as 
usual  fading  away  in  red  and  black  shadows,  would  behold  troop 
after  troop  of  the  Aztecs  retiring  from  the  streets.  When  dark- 
ness closed  upon  the  day,  all  sounds  of  warfare  would  be  hushed, 
and  the  city  would  seem  to  sleep  as  if  the  angels  of  night  and 
peace  stood  upon  the  temple,  and  waved  their  hands  over  her 
thousand  silent  palaces. 


CHAPTER   XXIII 


In  a  palace  facing  upon  one  of  the  great  canals,  in  the  lone 
hours  of  the  night,  when  the  tapers  waxed  dim,  and  naught  was 
heard  from  without  save  the  wings  of  the  wind,  as  they  flapped 
the  reed  and  feather-latticed  window,  sat  Malmiztic,  Cuitlahua, 
Guatemozin,  Tecuiclipo  and  Tecalco  in  deep  and  earnest  conver- 
sation. 

"Oh,  Guatemozin,"  said  Tecuiclipo,  **  it  was  a  rash  act,  in- 
deed it  was  a  cruel  deed." 

"  The  time  demanded  such  a  sacrifice,"  returned  the  person 
whom  she  addressed. 

**Nay,"  she  answered,  *'nay,  Guatemozin,  but  tiot  by  thy 
hands.  If  Montezuma  must  fall,  it  should  have  been  by  any 
arm  but  thine ;  remember  how  he  hath  cherished  you  in  days 
long  past. 

'*Ay,"  replied  the  other,  with  a  rapid  tone  of  voice,  "I  re- 
member well  how  he  has  cherished  me ;  it  is  graven,  sculptured, 
on  my  heart;  it  is  the  cherishing  the  wolf  gives  the  lamb — the 
favor  of  the  hawk  to  the  wild  fowl.  But  I  could  have  forgiven 
him  this  ;  nay,  though  he  had  thwarted  my  love  for  thee,  yet 
knowing  Cuitlahua  would  strive  to  make  thy  happiness  as  com- 
plete as  my  own  deep  love  could  make  it,  I  yielded  without  a 
murmur.  I  bore  the  arrow  quivering  in  my  heart,  although  its 
pangs  consumed  me  ;  I  heaved  the  heart-felt  sigh,  but  my  lips 
complained  not.  I  did  not  reproach  Montezuma  for  the  deep 
wound  he  had  inflicted  upon  me,  but  silently  submitted  to  the 
hard  decrees  of  fate." 

"Yes,  Guatemozin,"  replied  the  princess,  "  but  remember  thou 
hast  inflicted  a  bodily  wound  upon  him  more  deep  and  lasting 
than  the  loss  of  a  simple  girl  like  me  could  make  upon  thy  heart. 
Ah !  couldst  thou  return  a  wrong  so  foully  ?" 
(222) 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROaS.  223 

**Nay,"  replied  the  other  with  intense  emotion,'  "  I  would  not 
have  had  thee  snatched  from  me  for  his  diadem,  nay,  not  for  forty 
thousand  crowns  hke  it ;  but  Cuitlahua,  my  uncle,  loved  thee, 
and  here,  in  his  presence,  I  say  from  my  heart,  I  loved  him  not 
the  less  therefor;  I  bore  him  not  a  thought  of  ill,  that  he  should 
love  thee  thus.  He  saw  thee  as  I  did,  and  loved  thee  like  myself; 
he  was  worthy  of  thee,  though  then  I  scarcely  knew  his  worth, 
but  thy  father — thy  father,  Tecuiclipo,  struck  not  at  me  alone  in 
this  ;  had  he  shivered  the  very  heart  of  my  affection,  like  an 
itzli  mirror,  scattered  in  a  thousand  fragments,  it  would  have  been 
a  blow  which  a  single  grave  would  have  covered  ;  it  would  have 
been  buried  with  my  body,  and  forgotten  by  the  world,  who  never 
knew  its  poison  pains.  But  he  has  blotted  out  an  empire  in  an 
instant — he  has  fled  like  a  frightened  priest  from  the  altar  of  his 
gods ;  he  has  stained  the  proud  escutcheon  of  a  line  of  kings 
with  cowardice ;  he  has  dipped  the  scroll  of  our  nobility  in  a  pool 
of  blood,  and  drained  a  scarlet  sea  of  slaughter  out  of  the  com- 
mon heart  of  the  Aztec  race.  Tecuiclipo,  was  it  not  time  to  send 
him  to  the  shadowed  valley  of  the  dead  ?" 

**Nay,  Guatemozin,"  rephed  the  princess,  "though  he  had 
sold  our  empire  to  the  infidel,  and  our  people  into  bondage  and 
captivity ;  though  wrong  should  have  accumulated  daily  upon 
his  head,  thy  hand  should  not  have  struck  the  murderous  blow. 
I  did  love  you  once,  Guatemozin,  but  thou  hast  broken  my  heart — 
Guatemozin,  thou  hast  killed  my  father !  thou  hast  hurled  a  barb 
at  his  breast,  and  pierced  d^ep  into  mine!  My  father!  my 
father !  farewell !  and  thou,  Guatemozin,  likewise  farewell ;  let 
us  not  meet  again,  for  I  shall  see  blood  upon  thy  hands — my 
father's  blood  !  farewell !" 

Tecuiclipo  rushed  from  the  room  followed  by  Cuitlahua,  Guate- 
mozin gazing  a  moment  after  them  with  an  expression  of  unut- 
terable anguish,  clasped  both  hands  upon  his  pale  brow,  and 
falling  upon  his  knees,  burst  into  a  flood  of  irrepressible  tears. 
Malmiztic  and  Tecalco  rose  at  the  same  instant  and  supported 
him  upon  either  hand  to  a  cushioned  lounge.  Tecalco  stooped, 
pushed  back  the  black  mass  of  hair  which  had  fallen  over  his 
pallid  brow,  and  wiping  the  tear-drops  from  his  large,  sad  eyes, 
imprinted  a  kiss  upon  his  cold  cheek. 


224  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AJSD 

"Do  you  too  not  hate  me,  Tecalco?"  inquired  he,  looking  up 
strange  and  mournfully. 

"No,  Guatemozin,"  said  Tecalco,  in  her  soft,  harmonious  ac- 
cents, "  I  love  thee,  love  thee  fondly,  with  a  sister's  purest  love. 
Calm  thyself,  my  father  lives ;  he  is  but  wounded ;  a  slight, 
a  simple  Avound ;  'twill  heal  to-morrow.  Brush  away  these  tears, 
they  are  not  for  men,  they  arc  made  for  woman's  eyes.  My 
father  will  be  soon  abroad  ;  he  is  well  now  ;  a  scratch  of  a  jave- 
lin ;  not  more  than  the  prick  of  an  aloe  thorn.  Come,  come, 
Guatemozin,  let  not  my  sister's  weakness  and  folly  unman  thee ; 
be  more  thyself,  or  else  tliy  friend,  Malmiztic,  will  rate  thee  but 
a  girl." 

"Malmiztic  !  Malmiztic  here  ?"  said  Guatemozin,  musingly,  as 
if  suddenly  recollecting  himself,  "  Malmiztic,  my  wise  and  noble 
friend,  dost  thou  condemn  me  ?" 

"Not  I,"  said  the  Toltec,  firmly,  and  encouragingly.  "Nay, 
though  you  had  strung  up  tyrants'  heads  as  thick  as  the  skulls 
which  stand  in  the  Tzompantli,  I  would  not  lay  a  hair's  weight 
of  blame  upon  your  heart.  No,  boy,  you  have  pierced  the  skin 
of  one  with  a  flake  of  obsidian,  whose  pusillanimity  has  black- 
ened Tenochtitlan  with  corses.  He  was  thy  uncle,  Tecuiclipo's 
father,  Tecalco's  father — were  he  forty  times  dearer  than  ever 
father  were  to  child,  and  thus  desert  his  country  and  his  kin,  not 
this  scratch,  but  all  the  deaths  that  he  could  die,  could  not  re- 
deem his  forfeited  fate,  or  reinstate  the  empire  on  its  seat.  Why 
are  the  walls  of  this  city  black  ?  Why  hangs  the  dark  cloud  of 
gloom  upon  the  brows  of  a  thousand  widows  and  orphans  ?  Who 
widowed  them  ?  and  who  left  the  infant  fatherless  ? — Montezuma. 
He  who  has  paid  the  penalty  by  a  trivial  flesh-wound,  when 
years  of  pain  as  countless  as  the  leaves  in  Xochimilco's  vale  would 
fail  to  expiate  his  foul  and  damnable  off"ence.  And  who  spread 
the  gorgeous  banner  of  our  nation  to  the  sunshine  and  the  breeze  ? 
Who  rushed  with  it  amid  the  suffocating  smoke,  and  cannon 
thundering  death  around  his  way  ?  Who  bared  his  blade  in  bat- 
tle, and  leading  on  the  combat,  flew  to  the  close  conflict,  crying, 
*  Mexico  forever  !'  Who,  with  his  royal  standard  and  drooping 
eagle  crest,  led  the  way,  and  filled  his  followers'  hearts  with 
hope,  and  sent  a  death-chill  to  the  foeman's  soul  ?     Guatemozin, 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  226 

yea,  Guatemozin  !  he  who  a  moment  since  fell  pale  and  trembling 
before  a  woman's  words — Guatemozin,  he  who  deserves  his  na- 
tion's love  forever ;  he  whose  patriot  soul,  instead  of  shrinking 
before  the  Christian's  might,  calls  upon  the  mountains  and  the 
vales  to  pour  forth  their  power  for  their  country's  cause.  Then 
rouse  thee,  noble  man,  for  thou  hast  had  the  courage  to  strike  at 
a  monarch,  who,  like  a  deadly  disease  corrupted  the  body  of 
this  glorious  country.  Yes,  thou  hast  aimed  the  blow,  even 
knowing  it  would  cut  one  of  thy  own  heart-strings  in  the  stroke  ; 
but  the  traitor  yet  is  spared,  couldst  thou  have  transfixed  him 
where  he  stood,  and  set  thy  native  land  free  from  her  thral- 
dom, instead  of  being  a  theme  for  grief,  it  would  have  made  thy 
name  as  shining  and  imperishable  with  futurity,  as  the  white  im- 
mortal peak  of  lofty  Orizaba.  No,  Guatemozin,  let  not  thy  soul 
be  sorrowful ;  if  ever  honor  lit  the  warrior's  shield,  it  burns  on 
thine  ;  if  ever  patriot  soul  had  cause  for  pride,  that  soul  is  thine, 
which,  bursting  through  the  common  ties  ©f  kindred  blood,  strikes 
for  a  nation  and  a  nation's  rights !  If  ever  warrior's  name  were 
honorable,  'tis  thy  desert ;  and  if  it  is  ever  justified  to  strike 
aside  the  white  angel  wing  of  peace,  and  spread  forth  the  scarlet 
pinions  of  war,  it  is  when  aggression  sends  her  swarming  legions 
to  desolate  the  holy  happiness  of  home  !" 

While  these  parties  were  thus  conversing  within  the  palace, 
two  figures  glided  along  the  bank  of  the  canal  under  the  shadow 
of  the  night,  and  stood  gazing  in  at  a  window,  which  was  screened 
by  a  thick,  creeping  honeysuckle.  These  two  persons  stood  in 
silence,  and  listened  attentively  to  the  speakers  within  ;  they  were 
Spanish  cavaliers,  and  under  their  short  military  cloaks  casings 
of  mail  could  be  seen  covering  their  bodies  and  legs ;  they  waited 
quietly  until  the  party  within  the  palace  had  concluded  their  con- 
versation, and  then,  with  cautious  footsteps,  moved  away  along 
the  bank  of  the  canal  towards  their  quarters.  After  they  had 
turned  through  many  streets  one  broke  the  silence  and  exclaimed  : 

"By  Santiago!  is  she  not  supremely  beautiful?  Thou  hast 
roamed  through  the  vine-covered  valleys  of  Andalusia,  and  hast 
seen  the  dark-eyed  damsels  who  dwell  amid  the  olive  groves  of 
Grenada  ;  now,  say,  Sandoval,  hast  thou  ever  seen  a  more  angehc 
face  ?" 


1^26  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    ANU 

** Truly,  Alvarado,"  replied  his  companion,  "her  beauty  is 
wondrous — how  fairly  heaven's  hand  hath  fashioned  the  young 
heathen.  But  did  you  note  that  dark  heathen  who  stood  by 
her  ?" 

"Ay,  by  the  Cross,"  replied  Alvarado,  "if  I  mistake  not  from 
the  vague  glimpse  which  I  caught,  it  was  that  villain  who  struck 
my  sword  from  out  my  hand  in  the  plaza  of  the  great  temple." 

"Ay,  truly,"  answered  Sandoval,  "and  that  magnificent  fe- 
male who  left  the  room  was  the  other  daughter  of  the  emperor — 
she  who  was  queen  at  the  festival  of  flowers.  By  my  faith,  I 
can  scarce  decide  which  I  do  most  admire,  the  one  for  her  love- 
Hness,  or  the  other  for  her  majesty.  But  I  fear  me  that  he  who 
would  win  either  of  them  will  have  some  trouble  with  that 
knightly  infidel,  Guatemozin,  or  that  strange  mystic,  who,  like 
some  mighty  Egyptian  astrologer,  sways  an  influence  among 
these  people  like  the  hand  of  destiny  itself." 

"  By  the  bones  of  the  martyrs,"  returned  Alvarado,  "  I  wish  no 
better  field  for  knighthood  to  display  itself  than  in  defeating  these 
heathens,  and  especially  this  sorcerer,  who  holds  his  spell  upon 
this  exquisite  princess.  I  will  pluck  her  like  a  flower  from 
heathen  soil,  and  plant  her  in  the  bosom  of  Castile.  I  will 
snatch  her  like  a  glowing  cactus  flower,  though  guarded  by  a 
thousand  thorns." 

"Why,  Alvarado,"  returned  Sandoval,  "thou  wilt  risk  thy 
life,  sayest  thou  ?  Beware  !  they  are  dangerous  foemen  who 
guard  this  first  flower  of  the  Aztecs." 

"I  will  beware,"  replied  Alvarado;  "but,  mark  me,  Sando- 
val, that  girl  is  mine,  and  as  surely  as  we  depart  from  this  city, 
I  bear  her  with  me ;  remember,  with  the  favor  of  St.  James  and 
this  trusty  friend,  she  is  mine  ;"  and  so  saying,  the  Spanish 
knight  struck  his  hand  against  the  hilt  of  his  sword,  and  entering 
the  precincts  of  the  palace  of  Axajacatl,  gave  the  word  to  the 
sentinel,  and  they  passed  in. 

The  day  god  threw  his  blaze  of  gold  along  the  chain  of  silver 
lakes,  and  the  grey  mist  spread  its  wings  on  the  blue  sky  and 
vanished  in  the  distance  as  the  morning  advanced.  On  top  of  the 
great  temple,  which  entirely  commanded  the  whole  of  the  sur- 
rounding buildings,  and  overlooked  especially  the  quarters  of  the 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  227 

Christians,  were  assembled  full  five  hundred  of  the  Mexican 
nobles,  fortified  in  this  upper  area  of  the  temple,  and  armed  with 
all  the  arms  of  the  Aztecs,  from  whence  they  opened  their  fire 
upon  the  camp  of  Cortes,  with  a  galling  effect.  Scarce  could  a 
Spaniard  appear,  before  a  shower  of  missiles  would  rain  upon 
and  around  him  ;  in  at  every  aperture  of  the  ancient  palace  they 
poured  a  stream  of  arrows  ;  no  window  or  port-hole  could  be 
protected,  for  the  storm  pelted  every  face  which  made  its  appear- 
ance ;  and  after  hours  of  this  harassing  assault,  the  Christians 
made  an  attempt  to  issue  forth  in  a  body,  but  instantly  a  storm 
of  stones  rattled,  thick  as  the  hail  in  a  hurricane,  upon  the  flat 
roof  of  the  castle.  The  torrent  was  tremendous.  At  length, 
Cortes  sent  a  captain,  by  the  postern  gate,  with  a  body  of  a  hun- 
dred soldiers,  to  make  a  circuit  round  the  palace  and  dislodge 
the  enemy  from  the  upper  area  of  the  temple.  Thrice  did  the 
Spaniards  approach,  and  thrice  were  they  as  vigorously  repulsed  ; 
they  resolutely  came  forward,  but  the  Aztecs  repelled  them  by 
sheer  force  from  the  base  of  the  temple.  Again  the  Christians 
came  on,  but  their  success,  notwithstanding  their  obstinate  reso- 
lution, was  not  greater  than  before,  and  their  stoutest  eflbrts  to 
carry  the  way  up  the  great  staircase,  was  unavailing,  for,  upon 
their  approach,  heavy  objects  were  hurled  at  them  from  the  top, 
whence  they  fell  with  tremendous  and  destructive  force.  De- 
spite, therefore,  of  his  utmost  efforts,  the  Spanish  captain  was 
compelled  to  return  to  the  quarters,  and  report  to  Cortes  the  im- 
possibility of  carrying  the  temple. 

Cortes,  upon  hearing  this,  and  seeing  the  danger  that  would 
arise  from  remaining  in  his  present  exposed  position,  determined, 
at  last,  to  essay  in  person,  and  attempt  with  his  troops  to  cap- 
ture it. 

With  this  resolve,  he  tied  his  shield  upon  his  arm,  the  hand  of 
which  had  been  wounded  in  a  late  battle,  and  led  the  way 
towards  the  temple.  At  the  very  foot  of  the  stairs  they  were  met 
by  the  Aztecs,  who  were  chiefly  nobles,  and  again  the  conflict 
commenced.  It  was  strongly  contested  for  every  inch,  but  yet 
the  Christians  made  head  against  the  foe,  and,  step  by  step,  they 
mounted  the  stairs,  although  a  fierce  opposition  was  maintained 
by  the  Aztecs,  who  thronged  the  way  and  barred  the  progress 


228  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC ;    AND 

of  their  opponents.  Suddenly  a  crowd  would  press  upon  the 
Christians,  and  bear  them  back  by  their  overpowering  weight  and 
numbers,  crowding  them  down  the  steps  by  their  ponderous 
pressure.  But  Cortes  led  the  way  with  indomitable  valor,  and, 
notwithstanding  the  lame  condition  of  his  left  hand,  and  the  reso- 
lute resistance  of  the  swarming  enemy,  flight  after  flight  was 
gained,  for  the  iron-armed  soldiers  of  the  Cross  fought  furiously  ; 
and  when,  at  length,  after  their  long  and  desperate  struggle,  they 
gained  the  broad,  flat  area  on  the  top  of  the  temple,  they  gave  a 
shout  of  "Santiago !"  that  made  the  air  ring — to  which  the  Aztecs 
replied  with  a  yell  of  fearful  wildness.  Then  came  the  burst  of 
battle,  fierce  and  terrible,  hand  to  hand,  and  man  to  man,  sword 
and  shield,  steel  and  copper,  glittering  Toledo  blades,  and  the 
black,  flashing  itzli,  swords  and  maquahuitls,  armor  of  iron  and 
corselet  of  dried  hide,  silver,  and  even  breast-plates  of  gold. — 
Loud  rang  the  blows,  and  fierce  was  the  cry  of  contending  hosts ; 
room  for  retreat,  there  was  none — and  contest  to  the  death  was  the 
only  course.  Face  to  face  they  fought,  and  died  even  where  they 
stood  ;  with  every  one  it  was  the  death  resolve,  to  conquer  there  or 
die — to  pass  in  triumph  over  his  prostrate  enemy,  or  fall  at  that 
enemy's  feet  a  corse.  Loud  rose  the  clash  and  clang  of  warlike 
implements,  as  with  the  rage  of  furies  they  fought  on,  without  an 
instant  slackening  the  terrific  carnage.  The  cinnamon-faced  Az- 
tec met  the  bearded,  olive  complexioned  Castilian,  and,  in  an 
instant,  their  faces  were  spotted  with  blood,  as  they  rushed  upon 
each  other,  with  reckless  but  heroic  courage.  A  forest  of  swords 
and  maquahuitls  rose,  flourished,  and  fell  every  moment.  A 
voice  would  cry,  "  Mexico  !  Mexico  !"  or  "  Santiago  !  Santiago  !'* 
and  in  another  instant,  that  loud  voice  would  be  mute,  and  the 
being  who  breathed  it  would  be  a  bloody  and  mangled  corse, 
amid  the  slain,  who  thickly  strewed  the  whole  top  of  the  temple. 
For  hours  the  stormy  conflict  raged — three  long  hours,  hand  to 
hand,  upon  the  temple's  top — and  yet  the  panting  foes  struck 
fierce  and  fast,  as  they  planted  their  feet  in  the  crimson  lake, 
formed  by  the  hfe-blood  of  their  mutual  companions. 

The  host  of  Aztecs  was  by  far  the  greater,  but  the  hardy  Chris- 
tians, inured  to  fields  of  fight,  flagged  not  in  their  endurance,  but 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF   THE    CROSS.  229 

closed  with  each  fresh  foe  as  if  the  combat  were  just  begun. 
There  was  a  fearful  vigor  in  each  stroke,  which  nothing  but  a  man 
of  iron  could  resist,  and  Cortes  at  tiieir  head,  with  his  single  arm, 
seemed  like  a  fiend  let  loose,  so  fell  his  swoops,  and  so  unchecked 
his  course.  Lances  and  brittle  blades  shivered  on  his  shield, 
while  with  his  fierce,  grey-eagle  eye  flashing  right  and  left  with 
vivid  glance,  he  strode  on,  and  made  the  stoutest  quail  and 
shrink  before  him ;  the  might  of  fifty  cavaliers  centred  in  his 
single  arm,  and  in  spite  of  all  restraint  his  followers  pressing  at 
his  heels,  forced  the  dusky  foemen  back  to  the  outer  wall,  from 
whence  many,  sorely  wounded,  desperately  threw  themselves 
with  a  wild  leap  off  the  giddy  height,  and  went  whirling  through 
the.  air,  until  they  struck  the  rocky  sides  far  below,  and  were 
dashed  to  pieces  by  the  terrific  fall.  Still  the  career  of  Cortes 
and  his  comrades  knew  no  pause.  If  his  soldiership  and  terrible 
prowess  had  ever  been  questioned,  startling  proofs  were  not  now 
wanting,  for  he  performed  prodigies  of  valor  every  instant,  at 
which  his  astonished  followers  burst  forth  in  cries  of  admiration, 
"Cortes!  Cortes  forever,"  while  the  appalled  nobles  of  Mexico 
shrank  back,  and  one  exclaimed,  "  God  of  Battles  !  the  Fiend 
fights  against  us."  Panic  spread  amidst  the  Aztecs,  and  many 
sprang  madly  over  the  wall.  "Turn,  maniacs!  Aztecs  to  the 
stairway,  and  save  yourselves !"  spake  a  voice  like  a  trumpet  in 
the  midst  of  the  uproar,  and  instantly  the  remaining  Mexicans 
made  a  desperate  rush  for  the  flight  of  stairs,  and  Cortes  rushing 
upon  the  speaker,  came  full  upon  the  broad,  majestic  face  and 
frame  of  Malmiztic.  He  paused  an  instant,  then  struck  a  terrific 
blow  at  the  Toltec.  At  that  moment  a  stroke  from  the  lightning 
blade  of  Malmiztic  shattered  the  helmet  upon  the  head  of  Cortes, 
and  he  fell  apparently  lifeless  upon  the  flat,  bloody  stone  of  the 
temple-top.  Instantly  two  Christians  seized  the  powerful  Toltec, 
one  by  each  arm,  but  with  the  rapidity  of  a  thought,  and  might 
of  a  giant,  he  hurled  them  both  with  superhuman  force,  in  the 
flash  of  an  eye,  far  over  the  wall,  and  they  fell  headlong  below, 
and  the  Toltec  dashed  toward  the  stairway,  and  in  spite  of  all 
opposition,  descended  to  the  base  and  disappeared. 

In  the  meantime,  two  of  the  Aztecs,  in  a  fit  of  mad  despera- 


230  MALMIZTIO,  THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

tion,  rushed  upon  Cortes,  and  grappling  him  with  their  hands  by 
his  arms,  began  dragging  him  with  the  power  of  maniacs,  towards 
the  outer  verge  of  the  wall.  The  Spanish  commander  imme- 
diately comprehended  his  perilous  position.  He  beheld  destruc- 
tion staring  him  full  in  the  face,  and  he  rapidly  approaching  it, 
despite  of  all  resisting  efforts.  A  fiendish  joy  overspread  the 
countenances  of  the  two  as  they  dragged  him  on,  and  the  re- 
maining Aztecs  made  a  bold  and  sudden  rush  forward,  which  cut 
off  Cortes  from  the  protection  of  his  party.  Hitherto  the  life  of 
Cortes  had  been  spared  in  battle,  by  the  desire  upon  the  part  of 
the  enemy  to  take  him  alive,  and  make  him  a  sacrifice,  but  now 
they  had  him  near  the  altar  of  their  gods,  and  it  was  glorious  to 
die  as  martyrs,  when  they  destroyed  the  monster  who  desolated 
their  native  land.  Fiercely  and  firmly  they  grappled  Cortes,  and 
swiftly  they  dragged  him  towards  the  terrible  verge  of  the  wall ; 
stoutly  he  struggled,  but  in  vain.  Away  they  pulled  him,  and 
their  bright  eyes  gleamed  like  fire,  as  they  clenched  tightly  upon 
his  arms.  Quick  jerks  and  strong  pulls  were  alike  fruitless  ;  they 
bore  him  irresistibly  on.  His  nerves  quivered  as  he  struggled 
violently  in  their  powerful  grasp.  At  this  instant  his  eye  caught 
a  glance  of  the  frightful  distance  which  yawned  below.  He  grew 
giddy  at  the  vast  height,  and  that  fearful  depth  struck  him  almost 
blind  with  dizziness,  as  he  reeled  backwards  close  to  the  awful 
brink — tighter  and  tighter  they  grappled  him,  and  he  grew  almost 
powerless,  as  with  a  lift  they  strove  to  heave  him  beyond  the 
edge  of  the  parapet,  and  free  themselves  of  his  grasp.  Cortes, 
a  moment  before,  almost  paralyzed  with  weakness,  now,  as  by 
magic,  summoned  superhuman  strength  ;  his  muscles  tightened 
hke  tense-drawn  wires,  and  with  a  tremendous  surge  he  snatched 
his  right  arm  from  one  of  his  antagonists,  and  pushed  him  back- 
wards over  the  wall.  The  falling  Aztec  seized  with  a  death-gripe 
upon  the  leg  of  Cortes,  as  he  hung  over  the  parapet,  and  his 
weight  almost  drew  the  Spaniard  after  him ;  but  Cortes  having 
his  right  hand  free,  struck  the  Aztec,  as  he  hung  dangling 
on  the  outside  of  the  wall,  a  full  blow  upon  the  crown,  and 
the  tenacious  Mexican  dropped,  feet  foremost,  downward,  until 
he   struck  the   sharp  corner  of  the   temple,  far  below.      The 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  231 

moment  that  Cortes  was  thus  liberated  from  one  of  his  foes, 
he  turned  upon  the  other,  with  that  new  confidence  and  vigor 
which  made  the  resistance  of  the  opponent  appear  feeble  and  in- 
effectual. The  Aztec  still  held  him  by  the  lame  arm,  and  when 
Cortes  wheeled  upon  him,  he  struck  a  blow  full  in  the  face  of  the 
Aztec,  which  felled  the  latter  as  if  thunder-smitten.  By  this 
time  the  Christians  had  entirely  overpowered  and  slaughtered  the 
remnant  of  the  Mexicans,  who  had  vainly  striven  to  maintain 
their  position,  and  now  not  an  Aztec  remained  alive  of  the  host 
of  five  hundred  nobles,  who  that  morning  had  assailed  the  quar- 
ters of  the  Christians,  and  it  was  high  noon  when  Cortes  and  his 
companions  fired  the  Holy  Sanctuary  of  Mexitli,  and  as  its  lurid 
blaze  ran  up  the  sky,  towering  with  its  yellow  tongues  of  flame 
towards  heaven,  the  Christians  collected  their  fallen  comrades, 
who  were  found  to  be  six  and  forty ;  with  which  bodies  they 
descended  from  the  pyramid  of  the  temple,  and  returned  to  their 
quarters. 

The  soul  of  Cortes  was  fevered  and  restless,  and  that  night 
he  sallied  forth  with  his  troops,  and  marching  into  the  most 
beautiful  part  of  the  city,  began  to  touch  the  fiery  torches  to  the 
elegant  edifices.  Roof  after  roof  began  to  redden  and  glow  ;  the 
dry  and  odorous  cedar  timber,  and  other  aromatic  woods,  emitted 
a  powerful  perfume,  as  they  kindled  into  a  bright  blaze.  Flame 
after  flame  burst  forth  and  crimsoned  the  sable  sky.  Long, 
bright  lances  of  light  quivered  behind  columns  of  smoke,  and 
amid  the  black  masses,  wave  after  wave  of  fire  rolled  slowly 
away,  as  the  night  wind  curled  their  yellow  and  scarlet  crests, 
and  swept  them  from  pile  to  pile,  until  full  three  hundred  houses 
sent  up  a  lurid  glow  over  the  whole  city,  and  threw  a  vast,  red 
glaring  shadow  upon  the  dark  bosom  of  the  lake,  and  all  night 
long,  sparks  which  ten  thousand  times  outnumbered  the  stars, 
hurried  aloft  in  the  atmosphere,  until  the  air  gleamed  with  flakes 
of  fire.  Huge  billows  of  flame  rolled  hot  and  fiercely  over 
stately  palaces  and  dwellings,  whose  beautiful  architecture  and 
ornaments  had  been  the  pride  and  admiration  of  the  Aztecs, 
and  the  wonder  of  the  surrounding  nations.  All  night  long  thqu 
fire  cracked,  and  the  smoke  rolled  up  ;  the  great  timbers  would 


232  THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS. 

fall  in  from  time  to  time,  Avitli  a  crash — the  mighty  walls  mould- 
ered away,  and  the  grey  ashes  thickly  overspread  the  gar- 
dens, parks  and  pavements  of  the  streets.  When  the  morning 
dawned,  it  was  a  black  and  melancholy  wreck — a  mass  of 
smouldering  ruins,  where  the  red  fiend  of  conflagration  had 
reveled  around  the  funeral  pyre  of  architectural  beauty  and 
magnificence. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 


The  next  day  Cortes  attempted  the  causeway  towards  Iztapa- 
lapan,  on  which  there  were  seven  bridges  which  spanned  the 
sluices  connecting  the  waters  of  the  lake.  As  soon  as  he  had  sal- 
lied forth,  the  usual  horde  attacked  him,  but  he  drove  them  before 
him,  until  the  Christians  arrived  at  the  first  bridge.  Here  the 
opposition  of  the  enemy  became  more  decided,  and  his  progress 
was  not  only  checked,  but  his  men  harassed  sorely.  Neverthe- 
less, he  forced  his  way  on  to  the  second  bridge,  where  the  oppo- 
sing party  thronged  thickly,  and  lined  the  side  of  the  causeway 
with  their  water-craft,  filled  with  bowmen.  In  the  distance  upon 
the  lake  floated  a  fleet  of  boats,  with  awnings  upon  reeds  of  red 
cotton,  dyed  with  the  bright  cochineal.  But  the  armed  men  in 
vessels  ran  close  to  the  rocks  of  the  causeway,  and  poured  their 
showers  of  arrows  and  stones  from  slings  upon  the  Cavaliers  and 
their  companions.  The  Spaniards  now  gained  the  third  bridge, 
and  the  conflict  grew  sharp  and  severe.  The  enemy  pressed 
more  and  more  close  ;  hundreds  clambered  from  the  boats  up 
upon  the  causeway,  and  thronged  the  whole  space  before  the 
Christians,  inasmuch  as  not  a  foot  could  be  gained  by  Cortes, 
save  at  the  point  of  the  sword.  Hours  of  hard  battling  would 
only  advance  the  Spaniards  a  few  yards,  and  thus  the  whole  day 
dragged  heavily  on,  and  the  setting  sun  was  shooting  his  golden 
arrows  in  level  lines  over  the  surface  of  the  lake,  when  Cortes 
carried  the  fourth  bridge  of  the  causeway,  and  the  enemy,  weary 
of  the  tedious  fight,  withdrew  gradually,  while  Cortes,  whose 
success  was  not  less  fatiguing,  was  well  satisfied  to  return  to  his 
quarters  in  the  city,  to  recruit  the  strength  of  his  troops,  whom 
fasting  and  fighting  had  almost  worn  out  and  exhausted;  but 
upon  the  following  day,  the  indefatigable  Cortes  was  again  upon 
20  (233) 


234  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    ETC. 

the  causeway,  and  carried,  amid  the  same  storaiy  opposition,  the 
remaining  three  bridges,  and  reached  the  main  land. 

At  this  time,  news  came  that  the  Mexicans  would  desist,  if  the 
high  priest,  who  had  been  captured  by  the  Spaniards,  were  given 
up  ;  and  Cortes,  accordingly,  liberated  the  arch  idolater.  This 
proved  to  be  a  mere  stratagem  on  the  part  of  the  Mexicans,  for 
scarcely  was  there  a  cessation  of  hostilities,  when  news  came 
that  the  bridges  were  re-taken ;  whereupon  the  Spaniards,  under 
their  untiring  leader,  again,  upon  the  succeeding  morning,  sallied 
forth,  and  after  the  most  stubborn  and  dogged  resistance,  the 
Aztecs  were  compelled  to  yield  bridge  after  bridge,  until  at  last 
Cortes  had  captured  every  post  upon  the  entire  causeway. 

But  now,  new  troops  came  in  to  the  enemy  so  fast  that  Cortes 
was  compelled  to  abandon  his  position,  and  commence  a  retreat. 
One  of  the  bridges  was  recovered  from  the  Christians,  and  their 
force  driven  back  to  a  second  bridge,  from  thence  to  a  third,  and 
in  defiance  of  the  most  deadly  and  determined  defence,  the  fourth 
one  was  wrested  from  the  power  of  the  Christians  ;  and  thus, 
after  falling  back  all  day  long,  from  sluice  to  sluice,  they  beheld 
bridge  after  bridge  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  natives,  and  them- 
selves suffering  the  most  severe  losses. 

In  vain  their  valor  won  a  position,  for  countless  numbers 
crowded  them  out ;  and  thus,  after  so  many  days  of  fruitless  ex- 
ertion, Cortes  became  convinced  of  the  impossibility  of  contend- 
ing against  hosts,  who  seemed  to  rise  from  the  earth  as  fast  as 
they  were  felled — if  he  swept  a  legion  to  the  realms  of  death,  at 
nightfall,  the  morning  broke  upon  a  myriad  in  their  places,  whose 
courage  was  as  undaunted,  whose  maquahuitls  as  glittering,  and 
whose  banners  as  multiplied  and  gay,  as  though  death  had  not 
blackened  the  banners  of  their  companions  with  blood  on  the 
foregoing  day.  The  enemy  had  re-taken  all  the  bridges,  and 
Cortes,  with  his  people,  returned  to  his  quarters,  weary,  dispirit- 
ed, melancholy,  and  wounded — sore  of  body  and  sick  at  heart. 

In  the  meantime,  Montezuma  had  lain  in  the  ancient  palace, 
pierced  by  the  wound  of  the  javelin,  but  deeper  still  by  the  pangs 
of  a  broken  heart.  In  vain  they  dressed  his  wound,  day  after 
day  he  tore  the  bandage  off,  and  cast  the  healing  salves  which 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  236 

were  given  him  away — his  was  the  wounded  mind,  which  no 
medicament  can  heal — this  was  the  barb  which,  drawn  from  the 
heart,  brings  the  hfe-blood  with  it.  Father  Olmedo  came 
to  his  bedside,  day  after  day,  and  conjured  him  to  embrace 
the  cross  of  the  Christian  faith,  as  the  only  hope  in  the  wreck 
of  life  to  which  man  could  cling  in  the  rushing  cataract  of  death, 
and  gain  the  shores  of  heaven.  But  the  Aztec  could  not  be  per- 
suaded ;  the  faith  of  his  forefathers  still  was  uppermost  in  his 
mind ;  Christianity  had  opened  no  realm  of  light  to  him  ;  the 
only  glimpses  which  he  caught  of  its  meaning  were  vague  and 
shadow}'-,  and  Father  Olmedo's  beads  and  crosses,  were  unmean- 
ing types  of  chimerical  visions.  Hour  after  hour,  the  thin  face 
of  the  monarch  grew  more  wan,  the  spectral  paleness,  which 
foretokens  dissolution,  and  as  the  fatal  time  drew  near,  the 
earnest  prelate  urged  the  emperor  to  relinquish  the  wild  dreams 
of  the  Aztec  faith,  and  seek  salvation  by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb. 
But  in  vain  did  the  holy  father  dwell  upon  the  bliss  of  heaven, 
and  the  horrors  of  hell,  the  necessary  fate  of  the  self-willed 
sinner,  Montezuma  heeded  him  not ;  the  early  impressions  upon 
his  mind  were  seated  there,  rooted,  fixed,  an  unalterable  behef, 
the  shadows  of  the  mind  gazed  upon  so  long,  that  they  became 
realities.  The  needless  task  was  tried  in  vain,  Montezuma  was 
no  proselyte  ;  the  awful  pallor  of  the  king  of  shade  fell  upon  his 
countenance ;  the  bright,  black  eye  was  dimming  fast ;  the  few 
attendants,  whom  Cortes  allowed  him  to  keep,  stood  silently 
around  his  couch,  watching  the  moment  when  the  spirit  would 
vacate  the  tenement  of  clay  on  its  invisible  wings,  in  search  of 
the  land  of  Micoalt,  or  the  Path  of  the  Dead. 

By  slow  degrees,  he  faded  like  a  fading  light,  and  over  his 
dark  eyes  a  thin  film  began  to  creep,  and  as  each  breath  grew  less 
and  less,  that  film  closed  over  the  lake  of  the  eye,  glazing  its 
mysterious  depths  with  an"  icy  glass  —  all  was,  still,  still  —  the 
deep  silence  of  death,  the  noiseless  hush,  more  awful  than  all  the 
sounds  of  terror  on  the  earth. 

The  Christian  commander  came  in  and  gazed  upon  the  yet 
warm  corse  ;  a  thousand  emotions  rushed  through  his  heart ; — 
before  him  lay  the  innocent  victim  of  his  ambition — the  monarch 
whose  realm  he  had  usurped — the  man  whose  forbearance  and 


236  MALMIZTIC,    THPJ    TOLTEC  ;    A^D 

gentleness  had  protected  him  against  tlie  wrath  of  an  outraged 
people — the  man  upon  the  keeping  of  whose  person  he  had  held 
the  empire  in  restraint  and  subjugation — the  emperor  whom  he 
had  robbed  of  wealth  which  outshone  "  Ormus  or  Ind,"  robbed 
him  of  his  realm,  of  his  liberty,  and  lastly,  in  effect,  of  life  — 
and  now,  he  beheld  him  before  his  eyes,  a  broken-hearted  king, 
a  royal  corse,  from  whose  head  he  had  struck  a  crown,  the  blaz- 
ing brilliancy  of  which  would  have  dazzled  the  bearer  of  the 
richest  diadem  in  Europe.  And  the  companions  of  Cortes,  who 
stood  with  him  around  the  regal  death  couch,  saw  dark  and 
gloomy  shades  creep  over  the  face  of  Hernando  Cortes — a  look 
of  melancholy  and  unutterable  woe — a  perplexity  of  spirit  ready 
to  burst  forth  in  deep  grief,  but  restrained  by  great  efforts. 

The  sad  news  spread  through  the  city,  as  if  every  wind  whis- 
pered it,  and  it  fell  like  the  pall  of  night  upon  the  palace  ;  hosts 
hurried  to  the  Christian  camp  to  beg  cessation  of  hostilities,  and 
the  nobles  came  to  demand  the  body  of  their  emperor.  Cortes 
was  in  no  mood  to  refuse  either,  nor  did  he  conceive  his  interests 
demanded  that  he  should  give  denial  to  their  desires. 

Accordingly  the  Aztecs  prepared  to  perform  the  funeral  ser- 
vices. They  were  celebrated  with  all  the  grand  solemnities  of 
their  religion  ;  a  body  of  nobles  bore  upon  their  shoulders  all  that 
remained  of  their  once  great  monarch ;  it  was  in  a  litter  of  state, 
ornamented  with  the  most  gorgeous  insignia  of  his  royalty ;  his 
arms  and  banners  followed,  draped  with  signs  of  mourning,  and 
following  came  his  household  and  family,  some  clothed  in  white 
and  others  in  black  robes,  either  of  which  were  deemed  fit  ma- 
terial for  mourning ;  then  came  sad,  wild  music,  breathing  forth 
a  melancholy  wail  for  the  departed,  and  as  the  touching  notes 
swelled  long  and  sorrowfully  forth,  tears  started  from  thousands 
of  eyes  among  the  unending  multitude,  who  followed  their  mon- 
arch to  his  last  resting-place,  which  was  within  an  exquisite  and 
most  enchanting  grove,  whose  leafy  shade  was  in  the  very  heart 
of  the  city.  Here  the  vast  assemblage  saw  the  final  rites  and 
ceremonies  performed  upon  the  body  of  their  emperor,  ere  it  was 
entombed  in  its  final  resting-place.  From  this  the  innumerable 
hosts  passed  through  all  the  thoroughfares  of  the  great  city, 
singing  death-dirges  and  uttering  strange  and  mournful  cries. 


THE    CAVALlJKKd    OF    THE    CROSS.  237 

One  general  gloom  overspread  everything  ;  every  face  was  dark  ; 
the  voice  of  tribulation  alone  broke  the  deadly  calm  and  general 
silence  of  the  city.  The  faults  of  the  king  were  forgiven  in 
death,  and  his  memory  was  hallowed  by  regret. 

But  if  the  hearts  of  the  Mexicans  were  heavy,  that  of  Cortes 
was  doubly  so  ;  and  it  soon  became  apparent  that  the  only  bond 
of  amity,  which  had  existed  between  the  Aztecs  and  Spaniards, 
was  broken — that  link  was  the  emperor,  who  yet  had  a  few 
friends,  who,  faithful  to  his  order,  preserved  a  staunch  neutrality  ; 
but  now,  even  these,  Cortes  could  observe,  had  become  fearfully 
incensed  of  late,  and  stood  ready,  now  that  their  king  was  gone, 
to  revenge  his  cause.  A  terrible  and  tumultuous  storm  the  dis- 
creet eye  of  Cortes  could  clearly  see  brewing ;  the  mass  of  thou- 
sands was  in  a  strange  ferment,  and  that  it  would  be  impossible 
to  maintain  his  position  in  the  city,  when  all  the  inhabitants  were 
opposed  to  him,  and  his  supplies  becoming  daily  more  precarious. 

With  this  view  of  matters,  he  called  a  council  in  his  quarters, 
by  night,  to  hear  the  opinions  of  his  comrades  in  regard  to  evacu- 
ating the  city.  The  great  part  of  them  were  anxious  once  more 
to  see  their  homes  and  make  a  report  of  the  vast  fortunes  which 
they  had  acquired  in  the  city  of  the  Aztecs  and  the  golden  realm  of 
Mexico  ;  some  were  for  starting  forthwith ;  others  wished  prepa- 
ration ;  and  even  those  soldiers  who  had  been  fully  equipped  in 
an  hour's  notice  to  travel,  had  now  become  so  burthened  with 
plunder  that  days  would  be  required  to  arrange  it.  Some  advo- 
cated the  policy  of  marching  out  in  the  open  day,  saying  that 
there  would  be  no  opposition ;  but  others,  distrusting  the  present 
false  quiet,  were  in  favor  of  leaving  by  night ;  and  of  this  party 
the  most  zealous  was  Botello,  the  pseudo- astrologer;  he  had  been 
watching  and  fasting  for  some  time,  and  performing  a  world  of 
mystical  incantations  ;  he  had  been  repeating  cabalistic  spells,  and 
the  fame  of  his  conjurations  had  gone  abroad  among  the  soldiery 
to  so  great  an  extent,  that  many  of  them  fully  beheved  that  he 
held  communication  with  spirits  of  the  outer  world,  and  was  ac- 
quainted with  the  mysteries  of  the  ancient  magi.  The  noblest 
minds  may  often  be  imbued  with  a  tinge  of  superstition,  and  not- 
withstanding the  character  of  Cortes,  as  a  Christian,  he  was  fully 
persuaded  that  there  might  be  certain  hidden  powers  which  could 


238  MALMIZTIC,    THE   TOLTEC  ;   AND 

be  commanded,  and  although  he  entertained  a  contempt  for  Bo- 
tello,  in  person,  yet,  as  to  the  agencies  with  which  the  astrologer 
might  be  connected,  it  would  have  been  inconsistent  with  the 
spirit  of  the  age  to  have  set  them  all  down  as  inventions  and 
chimeras. 

Finding  a  large  majority  of  the  council  determined  to  depart, 
Cortes  allowed  himself  to  be  persuaded  by  Botello  to  start  upon 
the  night  of  the  next  day,  which  would  be  the  first  of  July — the 
arch  dissembler  pretending  that  he  had  a  revelation  to  the  eflfect 
that  such  would  be  the  auspicious  time ;  and  further,  that  the 
Aztecs  would  not  fight  by  night.  This  last  argument,  founded 
upon  apparent  reason  and  experience,  struck  Cortes  with  great 
force,  especially  in  coming  with  what  seemed  so  vague  and  char- 
latan like  in  the  way  of  prophecy,  upon  the  part  of  Botello.  Ac- 
cordingly it  was  determined  upon  to  adopt  the  advice  of  the 
pretending  astrologer,  and  preparations  were  made  to  start  by 
night  upon  the  fijst  of  July. 

Great  was  the  bustle  in  the  Christian  camp,  and  among  their 
allies,  the  Tlascalans,  when  it  became  known  that  Cortes  had  de- 
termined to  depart.  Out  of  the  immense  mass  of  gems  and  gold 
which  had  been  acquired  in  the  city,  the  general  set  aside  a  por- 
tion to  the  crown  of  Spain,  and  a  fifth  to  his  own  use ;  the  re- 
mainder he  disbursed  among  his  soldiery — not  without  much 
bickering  and  complaint  at  what  they  considered  the  extreme 
narrowness  of  their  commander,  in  suggesting  to  them  to  take 
but  little,  and  to  be  warned  of  overburthening  themselves ;  his 
advice  was  far  from  being  adopted,  for  the  greedy  soldiery,  seiz- 
ing upon  all  that  was  allowed  them,  loaded  not  only  their  camp 
equipage,  but  their  clothes  and  persons,  with  heavy  masses  of 
gold  and  ponderous  riches,  which  had  from  time  to  time  fallen 
into  their  hands  ;  their  horses  were  laden,  and  their  saddles 
were  packed  with  gold ;  gold  was  concealed  upon  everybody  and 
in  everything ;  the  very  cooking  utensils  of  the  camp  were  filled 
with  precious  bars  and  lumps  ;  rich  emeralds  and  diamonds  were 
strung  upon  the  dresses  of  the  troops,  like  buttons.  In  short, 
no  place  could  be  found  wherein  to  stuff  a  piece  of  gold,  or  gems, 
in  which  it,  or  they,  were  not  secreted. 

Wonderful  was  the  preparation  which  was  made,  in  a  short 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  239 

time,  in  the  camp  of  Cortes :  arms  were  scoured  and  repaired ; 
swords  were  brightened  from  their  blood  and  rust ;  provision 
sacks  were  well  looked  to ;  and  a  thousand  curious  things  were 
-stowed  away  by  the  cavaliers,  amid  their  rough  wardrobes,  as 
curiosities  over  which  they  could  talk  when  they  reached  their 
homes,  and  tell  old  friends  of  their  wondrous  adventures  in 
the  splendid  empire  of  the  Aztecs.  There  were  a  thousand  tro- 
phies which  told  a  thousand  tales — gems  which  had  graced  the 
crowns  of  infidel  princes,  and  mementos  of  palaces  stormed,  and 
castles  carried,  by  the  stout  cavaliers  of  Castile.  Every  horse 
was  packed,  and  the  sack  of  every  soldier  was  stuffed,  within  the 
close  quarters  of  the  palace  court-yard. 

The  night  came  on — it  was  a  strange  night,  in  appearance — a 
silent,  dark,  cloudy  night — and  the  small  rain  never  ceased  fall- 
ing ;  thick  gloom  hung  upon  everything,  and  sounds  without  the 
camp  were  hushed,  save  the  soft  and  silver  tinkling  of  the  fine 
drops  as  they  fell  from  the  black  sky  upon  the  shadowed  earth. 
At  length,  the  Christians  and  their  allies  silently  set  forth  towards 
Tlacopan.  There  were  seven  thousand  Tlascalans  who  followed 
Sandoval,  who  led  the  van,  and  Cortes  left  Alvarado  to  bring  up 
the  rear ;  and  thus  their  dark  host  moved  on  silently  under  the 
cover  of  the  gloomy  night. 

While  the  Spaniards  were  thus  preparing  and  moving,  the  Az- 
tecs were  far  from  idle ;  Guatemozin,  Cuitlahua,  and  Malmiztic 
were  congregating  thousands  upon  thousands,  in  secret,  and 
although  the  city  was  as  quiet  as  a  sepulchre,  yet  the  whole  capi- 
tal was  filled  with  warriors. 

Tecalco  had  persuaded  the  Toltec  to  let  her  take  the  dumb 
dwarf  of  the  cave  into  her  keeping  ;  to  this  Malmiztic,  with  some 
reluctance,  consented,  and  the  little  intelligent  creature  had  been 
brought  to  the  city,  where  he  soon  acquired  a  knowledge  of  the 
state  of  feeling  between  all  the  members  of  Montezuma's  family 
and  relatives.  Upon  this  night,  the  dwarf  came  to  his  mistress, 
with  his  beautiful  face  beaming  with  smiles,  and  communicated 
by  signs  he  had  found  something  for  which  Tecalco  had  been 
anxiously  in  search.  She  instantly  enveloped  herself  in  a  loose 
yeil,  and  followed  in  the  deep  darkness  the  footsteps  of  the  dwarf, 
through  many  winding  streets,  until  they  came  to  an  old  and 


240  MALMIZTIC,    THB    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

almost  iniined  castle,  around  which  were  thick,  green  bushes  and 
vines,  wet  with  the  falling  rain ;  creeping  through  the  fallen 
stones  and  among  fragments  of  rained  pillars,  they  groped  their 
way,  sometimes  stumbling  in  the  darkness,  to  a  great  dis- 
tance. 

At  length  they  came  to  what  seemed  to  have  been  a  large 
court-yard,  and  descended  by  a  flight  of  broad  steps ;  from  this 
they  entered  a  huge  hall,  which  ran  the  entire  length  of  the 
mighty  skeleton  of  a  castle,  the  pavement  of  which  was  of  broad, 
broken  stones,  lying  loose  and  irregular ;  and  here  the  dwarf 
halted  with  Tecalco,  and  drew  from  his  bosom  a  roll  of  cotton, 
out  of  which  he  took  a  small  silver  lamp  and  some  material  with 
which  he  instantly  struck  a  flame  ;  the  lamp  was  lighted,  and  in 
a  few  moments  they  came  to  a  door  fastened  with  a  heavy  chain 
of  copper ;  the  dwarf  pressed  upon  a  secret  spring  in  one  of  the 
links,  and  the  door  instantly  flew  open ;  the  princess  entered,  and 
halted,  struck  dumb  with  amazement.  The  room  was  small  and 
dark,  and  the  walls  were  bare,  grey  stone ;  the  light  of  the  lamp 
flashed  in  upon  the  double  gloom,  and  revealed  a  singular  appa- 
rition— it  was  the  strange,  gaunt  figure  of  a  man  whose  eye, 
black  and  youthful,  burned  with  an  unearthly  fire — a  lustre  too 
vivid  for  the  living — but  his  head  was  white  as  the  winter- 
bleached  snow,  and  its  hoary  locks  fell  in  long  masses  over  his 
half-naked  breast  and  shoulders ;  his  face  was  wan  and  ghastly ; 
there  was  a  spectral  stare  in  his  look,  as  he  gazed  upon  Tecalco ; 
there  was  something  strange  and  unnatural  in  this  blending  of  a 
young,  bright  eye  and  un wrinkled  brow,  with  a  thin,  skeleton 
form  and  hoary  locks.  The  figure  clasped  both  hands  and  ex- 
claimed, with  a  hollow,  sepulchral  voice  : 

"Art  thou  spirit  or  flesh,  mortal  or  angel  ?  By  the  pale  light 
of  this  strange  fire,  I  do  seem  to  have  seen  one  like  thee.  If 
thou  art  living,  thy  name  should  be  Tecalco." 

"Heavens  !  can  it  be  Cacama!"  replied  the  princess. 

**Ay,  that  voice  assures  me,  that  remembrance  has  not  deserted 
thy  wretched  cousin,"  returned  Cacama.  "I  am  he  who  was 
once  Cacama — once  king  of  Tezcuco ;  you  gaze  upon  me  with 
surprise;  in  faith  you  may,  for  in  good  sooth  I  am  strangely 
altered.     But  why,  and  how  camest  thou  hither  ?'* 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  241 

"My  dear  cousin,"  replied  Tecalco,  "how  I  came  matters  not, 
be  it  enough  that  my  mission  is  to  give  thee  hberty." 

"Liberty,  sayest  thou!"  exclaimed  the  prince;  "I  had  long 
since  ceased  to  Iiope,  and  even  now  I  scarce  can  think  that  free- 
dom will  be  mine." 

"  Doubt  not,"  said  Tecalco,  "but  come  with  us  at  once." 

"  Once  more  free,"  murmured  Cacama,  musingly,  "once  more 
free  !  this  is  strange,  indeed.  Good  angel,  I  bless  thee — lead 
on." 

With  these  words  he  kissed  his  beautiful  guide,  and  they  all 
departed  out  of  the  dungeon,  and  gained  the  street.  The  same 
thin  rain  was  falling  in  darkness,  and  they  hurried  on  through 
the  silence  of  night.  When  passing  along  near  the  head  of  one 
of  the  causeways,  a  party  of  horsemen,  catching  a  glimpse  of 
the  light  which  the  dwarf  bore,  galloped  suddenly  upon  them. 
The  princess  and  Cacama  secreted  themselves  behind  a  wall, 
which  had  been  battered  down  by  the  cannon  of  the  Christians ; 
but  despite  the  quick  pursuit,  the  dwarf  and  his  lamp  disappeared 
like  a  will-o'-the-wisp,  while  other  soldiers  came  up  with  lan- 
terns, and  searched  around,  but  found  nothing;  and  Alvarado, 
who  led  the  party,  was  upon  the  pojnt  of  relinquishing  the  pur- 
suit, when  the  rays  of  his  lamp  fell  upon  the  figures  of  Cacama 
and  Tecalco,  behind  the  rocks,  where  they  crouched,  breathless 
and  trembling.  Alvarado  dismounted,  and  drawing  his  sword, 
commanded  the  parties  whom  he  had  discovered,  to  surrender. 
Cacama  stooped,  and  picking  a  stone  from  the  earth,  threw  it  at 
Alvarado,  and  struck  him  upon  his  helmet  with  such  force  as  to 
stun  him  for  a  moment,  and  Cacama  instantly  fled.  In  the  dark 
it  was  almost  impossible  to  see  more  than  a  few  rods,  and  despite 
the  immediate  pursuit  of  the  Spaniards,  the  Tezcucan  escaped ; 
but  Alvarado  advanced  to  the  princess,  and  lifting  his  lantern 
aloft,  by  its  light  discovered,  to  his  inexpressible  joy,  that  it  was 
the  late  emperor's  daughter.  Calling  a  soldier  with  his  steed, 
he  mounted,  and  receiving  the  lovely  girl  in  his  arms,  he  pursued 
the  way  with  his  troops  towards  the  causeway,  where  the  main 
body  were  crossing  the  bridge,  and  making  their  way  out  of  tlie 
city.  The  whole  party  were  moving  with  silence  on  their  course, 
and  the  dull,  drizzling  hum  of  the  small  rain,  fell  dretunily  and 
21 


242  MALMIZTIO,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

monotonously  upon  the  ear.  The  footsteps  of  the  soldiery,  with 
irregular  plash,  beat  upon  the  damp  earth,  and  the  horses'  hoofs, 
along  the  entire  line  of  the  army,  from  Sandoval  in  the  van  to  Al- 
varado  in  the  rear,  clattered  occasionally  upon  the  loose,  broken 
stones  which  lay  along  the  causeway,  and  now  and  then  the  iron 
with  which  they  were  shod  would  strike  the  stone,  and  sparks  of 
fire  would  fly  out  for  an  instant  in  the  darkness. 

The  march  was  a  very  crowded  one,  and  the  horde  of  Tlasca- 
lans  pressed  closely  on  after  the  Christians.  The  whole  body  of 
them  were  almost  borne  down  by  the  oppressive  burthen  of  their 
plunder.  All  the  riches  which  they  could  collect,  and  all  the 
goods  upon  which  the  eyes  of  cupidity  could  fix  themselves,  were 
being  borne  off  by  this  avaricious  caravan.  The  whole  line  of 
troops  preserved  so  strict  a  silence,  that  the  only  voices  which 
were  heard,  conversed  in  suppressed  whispers.  Universal 
gloom  wrapped  the  lake  and  the  land,  and  Cortes,  knowing  the 
opposition  of  the  Aztecs  to  fighting  by  night,  imagined  very  con- 
fidently that  there  would  be  no  impediment  to  his  outward  pas- 
sage. It  was  a  strange  stillness  with  which  the  whole  great  body 
moved  forward,  and  gained  the  first  bridge  over  the  canal  in  the 
causeway,  and  passed  quietly  over  it  without  the  least  resistance 
or  appearance  of  danger.  At  this  moment,  when  all  was  deep 
and  dread  silence,  the  wild  and  fearful  notes  of  Guatemozin's 
bom  was  heard  from  the  top  of  the  temple,  winding  loud  and 
terribly  over  the  whole  city,  and  echoing  along  the  silent  and 
gloomy  shores  of  the  lake.  It  was  a  strange  and  startling  sound 
to  burst  forth  amid  the  solemn  shadows  of  midnight  darkness  ;  at 
such  an  hour,  when  nature  seemed  hushed,  and  the  drowsy  rain 
fell  ceaselessly,  that  sound  came  awfully  mysterious  and  thrilling. 
Listening,  the  quick  ear  of  Cortes  caught  the  accents  of  the  high 
priest  from  his  tower,  crying,  **To  arms  !  to  arms  !'*  and  almost 
simultaneously,  he  perceived  they  were  surrounded  by  the  dark 
hosts  of  Mexico,  and  forthwith  the  attack  began.  They  had  now 
reached  the  second  ditch,  and  Cortes,  with  his  Ubual  foresight,  an- 
ticipating that  the  bridges  would  be  cut  down,  had  provided  him 
self  with  large  portable  bridges  made  of  wood,  over  which  he 
could  transport  his  troops,  horses,  and  baggage,  together  with  the 
artillery,  and  all  the  munitions  of  war  and  equipage  of  camp. 


THE  CAVALIERS  OP  THE  CROSS.  243 

At  the  second  bridge  the  battle  began  with  dreadful  earnestness. 
The  Aztecs  rushed  to  the  attack,  as  they  had  never  done  before. 
There  was  an  unwonted  fierceness  in  their  assault,  the  effect  of 
which  was  terrifically  fatal,  both  to  themselves  and  their  foes ; 
the  confusion  became  fearful,  but  still  Sandoval  pressed  forward, 
with  that  unquailing  gallantry  which  scorned  and  defied  the  din 
and  roar  of  battle,  and  the  thick  obscurity  of  the  night.  Right 
on  he  urged  his  way,  but  it  was  a  fearful  work ;  thick  upon  the 
causeway  lay  corses,  and  the  wounded  were  strewn  all  around 
the  bank  of  the  canal.  Forward  moved  Sandoval,  and  following 
came  the  whole  troop,  and  fiercely  fought  their  way  across  the 
bridge.  The  heavy  artillery,  in  its  passage,  buried  the  transport- 
ing bridges  so  deep  in  the  black  mud  of  the  canal,  that  it  was 
with  difficulty  that  it  could  be  extracted.  Amid  a  shower  of 
arrows  and  darts,  which  whistled  through  the  night's  Tartarean 
gloom,  Sandoval  reached  the  third  canal.  Again  the  bridge  was 
broken,  and  only  hanging  by  a  few  loose  timbers.  The  intrepid 
Cavalier  finding  it  impassable  for  his  horse,  dismounted,  and  led 
the  animal  by  the  bridle,  while  he  proceeded,  sword  in  hand,  to 
attempt  to  find  out  some  mode  of  passage  across  the  canal. 
Bringing  forward  his  axemen,  he  commanded  them  to  cut  away 
the  props,  and  they  did  so,  when  the  whole  superstructure  fell, 
with  a  tremendous  splash,  into  the  dark  canal,  and  hundreds 
rushed  to  cross  upon  it,  and  by  the  time  the  first  party  were  over, 
the  crowd  had  so  thickened  upon  it,  that  its  timbers  sank  with 
them  beneath  the  water.  Frightful  confusion  followed,  and  in 
the  midst  of  this  disorder,  the  thronging  Aztecs  fell  fiercely 
upon  the  Christians.  It  was  a  dreadful  strife,  and  hand  to  hand 
they  closed  in  the  darkness,  and  many  a  death-grapple  was  had, 
as  the  combatants  clinging  to  each  other  and  fighting,  fell  over 
the  edge  of  the  causeway  into  the  lake,  or  rolled  furiously  down, 
entangled,  into  the  canal.  The  high-spirited  Cortes  came  up, 
and  urging  his  stout  steed  forward,  plunged  boldly  into  the  sluice ; 
the  powerful  animal,  snorting,  heaved  through  the  water,  with 
crest  erect,  and  his  broad  breast  dashing  the  liquid  element  aside. 
Even  amid  the  darkness  and  confusion,  the  Aztecs  espied  this 
horse  and  rider  :  wimming  the  canal.  Almost  immediately  a  host 
of  dark  heads  were  around  him,  some  clinging  to  his  legs,  some 


244  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

to  his  saddle -skirts,  and  some  with  their  hands  fast  in  the  flowing 
mane  of  the  struggling  steed.  The  swimmers  swarmed  around 
Cortes,  and  while  swimming  with  one  hand,  they  would  deal 
blows  from  staves  and  maquahuitls  with  the  other  at  the  rider, 
but  his  steel-laced  corselet,  and  well-tempered  helmet,  defied  the 
might  of  those  who  rained  their  strokes  upon  him.  At  length 
the  noble  animal  struck  the  farther  bank  of  the  canal,  and  de- 
spite of  the  stones  and  missiles  which  hailed  upon  him,  he 
mounted  the  rocky  sides,  and  came  upon  the  causeway,  pierced 
with  fifty  arrow-heads,  but  unbroken  in  his  fiery  spirit.  Here 
Cortes  found  himself  in  the  midst  of  a  handful  of  Christians, 
who  were  contending  with  a  numberless  multitude  of  heathens, 
whose  wild  cries,  in  the  dark,  were  dreadful,  and  in  the  water  of 
the  canal  numbers  were  struggling  and  splashing  in  the  gloom  to 
reach  the  shore  ;  and  so  direful  was  the  carnage  upon  the  brink 
of  the  canal  that  the  host  of  Christians,  Tlascalans  and  Aztecs 
that  fell  and  rolled  into  the  canal,  had  choked  up  the  whole  bed, 
until  the  living  were  even  standing  upon  the  dead  in  the  water,  and 
dealing  death-strokes  at  each  other.  But  despite  the  disorder 
and  confusion,  the  aim  of  the  Christians  was  still  onward,  and 
after  a  majority  of  the  troops  had  crossed,  an  effort  was  made  to 
bring  over  the  artillery.  The  lighter  armament  was  successfully 
moved  across,  but  as  the  mass  of  Tlascalans  came  dragging  on 
the  heavy  ordnance,  the  timbers  of  the  bridge,  which  had  already 
fallen,  creaked  and  groaned  beneath  the  ponderous  load,  and 
when  the  great  guns  had  reached  midway  the  bridge,  one  tre- 
mendous crash  was  heard,  and  the  whole  fabric  snapped  in  two 
in  the  centre,  and  the  heavy  cannon  sank  instantly  in  the  middle 
of  the  canal,  and  bearing  down  one  end  of  the  bridge,  it  carried 
with  it  numbers  of  both  parties  wiio  were  standing  upon  it,  some 
contending,  and  others  drawing  on  the  artillery. 

1 1  length,  by  dint  of  strife  and  labor,  the  Spaniards  and  their 
auxiliaries  effected  a  passage,  and  pursued  their  course  on  to- 
wards the  next  sluice,  where  the  bridge  was  again  gone,  and  the 
shores  cf  the  canal  were  of  that  soft,  black  mud  which  was  al- 
most quick-sand  in  many  parts,  and  here  in  the  dark  they  again 
essayed  to  lay  one  of  their  portable  bridges  across  the  deep, 
sluggish   stream ;  but  the  opposition  of  the  enemy  rendered  it 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CK08S.  245 

almost  impossible,  and  the  nature  of  the  ground  contributed  to 
make  the  object  a  most  difficult  one  to  achieve.  A  constant  clan^T 
and  hum  of  battle  struck  upon  the  ear  in  the  darkness,  and  the 
various  cries  which  were  used  by  the  parties  were  the  chief  means 
by  which  the  combatants  could  be  distinguished.  At  this  time, 
when  Cortes  and  his  officers  were  making  the  most  vigorous  efforts 
to  arrange  their  troops  and  allies  upon  the  causeway,  the  darkness 
of  the  night  had  grown  more  deep  than  ever.  Every  object  had 
become  so  shadowed,  that  the  face  of  friend  or  foe  could  not  be  dis- 
tinguished, and  only  the  dim  outline  of  forms  in  the  midst  of  the 
gloom,  could  be  discerned.  At  this  moment  the  wild  peal  of 
GuatemoziTi's  horn  again  swelled  forth  terribly  from  the  top  of 
the  great  temple,  and  instantly,  as  by  a  work  of  magic,  the  whole 
pinnacle  of  the  mighty  temple  became  illuminated  with  one 
vast  watchfire,  whose  brilliant  burst  of  flame  shot  up  into  the 
black  sky,  and  reddened  the  ebon  roof  above,  while  it  threw  a 
sheet  of  glowing  crimson  far  down  upon  the  city,  and  scattered 
a  broad  stream  of  ruddy  light  upon  the  midnight  surface  of  the 
lake.  The  sight  which  the  strange  glare  revealed  to  the  eyes  of 
Cortes  and  his  companions,  was  appalling,  for  when  the  sable 
skies  blushed,  and  the  red  shadow  of  the  huge  pyre  flashed  upon 
the  bosom  of  the  lake,  it  disclosed  to  their  amazed  vision,  the 
whole  face  of  the  waters  alive  with  boats  filled  with  thousands 
upon  thousands  of  dusky  warriors,  making  their  way  fast  towards 
the  causeway  and  the  Christians.  The  boats  were  numberless, 
and  swarmed  in  every  direction.  As  far  as  the  eye  could  stretch 
they  came  crowding  on — the  quays,  the  canals,  the  reedy  shores 
and  the  marshy  margin  of  the  lake  appeared  to  move  with  their 
uncounted  throng,  and  almost  immediately  the  nearer  craft  com- 
menced their  attack  upon  Cortes  and  his  comrades,  and  in  a  few 
moments  they  multiplied  so  fast  around  the  Christians,  that  one 
continued  rain  of  missiles  was  showered  from  the  boats,  until 
the  Spaniards  and  Tlascalans  were  almost  blinded  by  the  terrific 
storm.  The  muskets  of  the  Cavaliers  blazed  forth,  and  scattered 
the  hosts,  who  climbed  the  causeway ;  but  where  the  dead  fell, 
countless  living  leaped  up,  and  came  thrice  as  thick  in  their  places, 
and  the  water-craft  lined  thickly  the  rocky  sides  of  the  causeway 
and  poured  forth  their  legions  upon  the  land,  until  the  whole 


246  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC ;    AND 

embankment  swarmed  with  living  myriads,  who  rushed  upon 
Cortes  and  his  colleagues  with  such  fiery  assault  that  the  Christians 
were  completely  overwhelmed  and  scattered — confusion  and  rout 
followed.  Vainly  did  Cortes  attempt  to  keep  all  of  his  troops  and 
alHes  together,  but  they  were  broken  to  pieces,  severed  and  sepa- 
rated in  all  directions  ;  every  division  was  cut  off  from  the  other ; 
to  stand  against  the  infinite  multitude  was  impossible  ;  to  retreat 
was  equally  so  ;  and  every  step  which  they  now  advanced,  as  the 
light  glared  brightly,  Cortes  could  see  his  companions  fall,  and 
the  infuriate  enemy  clinging  to  them  with  frightful  ferocity,  and 
grasping  the  reins  and  the  rider  of  every  steed  which  charged 
along  the  causeway  through  the  midst  of  the  multitude. 

By  tremendous  exertion,  Sandoval  gained  and  passed  another 
canal,  but  could  not  with  all  his  efforts  extricate  the  temporary 
portable  bridge  which  he  had  thrown  over  it ;  the  timbers  sank 
deep  in  the  soft,  black  mud,  and  many  lost  their  lives  in  the  water 
or  were  dragged  ofi"  by  the  enemy  in  the  boats  as  they  were 
strufff^linor  in  the  mire. 

The  parties  were  now  divided,  and  Sandoval,  finding  the 
bridge  inextricable,  passed  on  without  it,  pushing  the  enemy  be- 
fore him  at  the  point  of  the  sword,  until  he  was  separated  by  a 
wide  space  from  Cortes,  who  was  closely  beset  by  a  multitude  of 
the  enemy,  and  fighting  desperately,  hand  to  hand,  in  the  midst 
of  a  dreadful  slaughter. 

Far  behind  and  beyond  the  bridge  was  Alvarado,  with  his  sol- 
diers battling  stoutly,  but  vainly  contending  with  the  multitudi- 
nous foe.  And  now,  the  evil  of  their  burthen  of  riches  became 
apparent,  for  those  who  clung  to  their  heavy  baggage  were  cut 
down  and  fell  sacrifices  to  their  avarice.  Thus  thousands  de- 
serted pillage  and  countless  others  died  attempting  to  defend  their 
wealth,  or  fell  in  bearing  it  off;  some  staggered  forward  under  a 
ponderous  load,  and  fought  until  they  were  exhausted  and  over- 
powered by  exertion  or  the  enemy. 

Cortes  kept  near  the  great  mass  of  the  treasure  and  guarded 
it,  but  from  time  to  time  he  was  compelled  to  relinquish  portions 
of  his  rich  spoil,  and  by  degrees  he  beheld  it  diminishing  rapidly, 
and  every  effort  to  protect  it  seemed  fatal.  Gold  was  the  dead 
weight  which  dragged  the  soldiers  down,  and  it  was  only  when 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  247 

their  strength  was  almost  entirely  gone  that  they  would  abandon 
it.  It  was  a  strange  struggle  between  life  and  gold,  and  fearful 
was  the  number  who  lost  both.  Many,  who,  tired  out  with  their 
burthens,  had  thrown  them  away,  finding  themselves  far  behind 
their  companions,  made  desperate  but  futile  efforts  to  reach  the 
company,  and  overpowered  with  numbers,  sank  beneath  the 
blows  of  the  Aztec  enemy. 

Everything  was  now  disorder ;  the  whole  army  was  scattered 
along  the  causeway,  in  separate  squadrons,  and  between  them 
were  hosts  of  the  enemy,  cutting  the  Christians  and  Tlascalans 
off  from  each  other,  and  forcing  them  to  fight  in  handfuls  and 
hundreds  against  legions,  whose  number  was  incalculable.  All 
the  bright  armor  of  the  Spaniards  was  smeared  and  bloody,  and 
thick  mud  clung  upon  them,  which  they  had  caught  in  passing 
the  sluices ;  but  still  they  strove  manfully,  yet  their  heroic 
prowess  was  unavailing,  for  the  enemy  seemed  to  gather  and  in- 
crease in  numbers  momentarily ;  in  front  and  rear,  right  and  left, 
on  land  and  shore,  in  every  place  could  the  fiery  eyes  of  the  Az- 
tecs be  seen ;  and  in  every  direction  they  poured  a  torrent  of 
barbs,  javelins,  stones,  and  arrows,  without  cessation,  upon  the 
Tlascalans  and  the  Spaniards,  who,  confused  and  desperate,  knew 
not  whither  to  turn  in  the  darkness,  for  fear  of  falling  at  once  in 
the  hands  of  the  foe.  In  the  next  instant  the  flame  from  the 
temple  would  flash  forth,  and  they  would  behold  themselves  sur- 
rounded by  hosts  whose  number  seemed  a  death-blow  to  all  hope 
of  opposition  or  escape. 

Thus  passed  the  hours  of  the  mournful  night,  amid  carnage, 
shouts,  shrieks,  groans,  the  clang  of  arras,  the  rush  of  men  and 
horses,  the  wild  confusion,  the  dismay  and  despair  of  bewildered 
and  hope-forsaken  men.  Far  in  the  van,  brave  Sandoval  breasted 
the  night-storm,  and  led  his  decimated  followers  on,  cheering 
them  with  the  hope  that  the  main-land  might  yet  be  reached. — 
Behind  him,  in  the  distance,  came  the  courageous  Cortes  ;  in  the 
red  glare  of  the  fire-light  his  countenance  showed  strangely  ;  he 
was  pale,  but  his  eye  shone  with  a  wild  and  desperate  fierceness ; 
it  was  a  look  of  despair  half  hidden  by  a  deathless  determina- 
tion ;  his  stroke  was  the  fellest  which  came  upon  the  enemy,  and 
his  shout  sent  a  thrill  home  to   the  hearts  of  his  desponding 


248  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC ;    AND 

followers ; — around  him  the  stalwart  cavaliers  thronged  and  dealt 
fatal  blows  in  the  face  of  the  foe. 

''.  Lingering  on  the  skirts  of  the  army  came  Alvarado,  far  in  the 
rear  and  surrounded  by  a  swarming  myriad  of  Mexicans,  who 
poured  upon  him  and  his  troops  the  whirlwind  of  their  rage ; 
loudly  they  yelled  and  roared  around  him ;  heads  came  up  over 
the  bank  of  the  causeway  in  thick  masses,  and  pressing  on  behind 
came  a  cloud  of  warriors  that  darkened  the  night  as  they  crowd- 
ed on  hotly  after  Alvarado  and  his  men,  as  well  as  their  auxilia- 
ries. The  terrified  Tlascalans,  who  had  fought  nobly  in  the 
earlier  part  of  the  night,  now  were  so  panic  stricken  by  their 
hopeless  situation,  that  they  ran  madly  and  plunged  headlong  into 
the  lake,  and  the  dark  waters  closed  over  them.  All  efforts  to 
rally  them,  upon  the  part  of  Alvarado,  proved  fruitless ;  away 
they  fled,  and  precipitated  themselves  over  the  causeway,  or  ran 
unwittingly  on  and  were  transfixed  by  the  sharp  spears  of  their 
adversaries.  Around  the  impulsive  and  fiery  Spaniard  there 
stood  now  but  a  handfull  of  Christians,  but  they  were  men  of 
steel ;  for  five  long  hours  had  they  fought  the  foe  face  to  face, 
and  yet  they  flinched  not— they  felJ,  but  fell  fighting,  dropping 
upon  the  stones,  and  still  fighting  when  they  Avere  down. 

Alvarado  fought  on  upon  his  powerful  black  mare,  and  still 
held  in  his  arms  before  him  the  beautiful  Tecalco,  over  whom  he 
had  thrown  his  shield,  while  with  the  same  hand  he  guided  his 
courser,  and  with  a  tremendous  broadsword  in  the  other,  he 
slashed  right  and  left,  making  horrid  havoc  wherever  his  trenchant 
blade  fell. 

But  still  the  multitude  increased  in  number  and  rage  ;  fresh 
legions  pouring  in  perpetually,  charged  upon  the  wreck  of  a  divi- 
sion who  yet  remained  with  Alvarado,  and  with  such  disastrous 
eff"ect,  that  half  the  handful  who  were  left  tell — and  the  rest,  in 
mad  desperation,  rushed  into  the  midst  of  the  Aztecs,  determin- 
ing to  sell  their  lives  as  dearly  as  possible.  Thus  man  after  man 
departed  and  fell,  until  there  stood  by  Alvarado  but  a  single, 
stern  old  soldier,  a  gfey-headed  veteran,  who  had  followed  the 
fortunes  of  Alvarado  from  his  most  youthful  adventures. 

*'  Tecalco  !"  shouted  an  Aztec,  as  he  flourished  a  burning 
torch  before  the  head  of  Alvarado's  horse.    "Tecalco,  where?" 


b 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  249 

echoed  a  voice  which  Alvarado  recognized  at  once  as  belonging 
to  Malmiztic ;  and  in  an  instant  the  broad,  dark  form  of  the  Tol- 
tec  appeared  by  the  red  light  blazing  from  the  temple,  close  by 
the  side  of  Alvarado's  horse,  with  his  electric  blade  flashing  in 
his  hand. 

"Ah,  he  !"  said  Alvarado,  "then  the  moon  of  my  fortune  is 
waning  and  losing  herself  in  the  gloomy  clouds  of  this  night. — 
Here,  Juan,  take  my  horse,  and  fly  with  this  damsel  ;  remember 
that  she  is  a  princess,  and  if  thou  lovest  me,  mount,  and  hie 
away  with  her." 

"  What !"  exclaimed  the  old  man,  to  Alvarado,  who  had  dis- 
mounted, "leave  thee  !  I,  who  have  followed  thy  fortunes  so  far, 
fly  from  thee  now  !  No,  never  !  I  cannot,  I  will  not  desert 
thee !" 

"Nay,'*  replied  the  other,  "we  waste  words — the  foe  is  upon 
us — in  the  name  of  God  and  the  Virgin,  I  command  you,  go  ! — 
As  you  would  do  a  favor  to  your  captain,  as  you  would  execute 
his  last  request,  lose  not  an  instant — ^save  the  princess,  and  I 
will  save  myself — fly,  and  bid  Cortes  succour  me  ;  remember  that 
is  my  only  hope  of  salvation  !" 

"What !  shall  I  leave  thee  ?"  said  the  soldier. 

"Away,  and  not  a  word  more !"  said  Alvarado,  half  lifting 
the  old  man  into  the  saddle,  and  lightly  swinging  the  form  of  Te- 
calco  up  before  the  grey-headed  veteran.  "  God  speed  thee,"  he 
cried,  as  the  powerful  black  mare  leaped  away  with  the  old  man 
and  his  charge  in  spite  of  the  throng  which  surrounded  them. 

"Now,  infidels  and  devils,  come  on  !"  cried  Alvarado,  as  he 
turned  upon  those  who  were  rattling  darts  and  arrows  against 
his  steel  bonnet  and  close-riveted  armor  ;  "and  you,  dark  night- 
raven  !"  said  he,.as  he  came  in  an  instant  face  to  face  with  Mal- 
miztic, "I  have  a  reckoning  to  make  with  you.  Now,  Christ 
and  Santiago,  aid  me,  a  poor  defender  of  the  Cross,  against  thee, 
thou  sable-robed  son  of  Satan.  Life  or  death  !  Spain  or  Mexico  ! 
have  at  you  !" 

And  with  these  words,  he  darted  towards  the  Toltec,  and 
their  swords  met  in  the  air  with  "a  sharp  clang.  The  multitude 
fell  back  from  the  combatants,  who  dealt  rapid  blows  at  each 
other  which  made  the  sparks  of  fire  glitter  in  the  gloom.     Right 


260  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

manfully  did  the  handsome  Spaniard  wheel  his  keen  broadsword 
before  him,  and  deftly  did  he  catch  the  swift  blows  which  were 
dealt  at  him.  Now  he  sprang  forward,  and  again  he  leaped  back, 
to  give  or  avoid  a  stroke  ;  and  busy  was  his  eye  to  ward  and  parry 
the  sharp  cuts  and  thrusts  of  his  antagonist,  who  forced  Alva- 
rado  to  retreat  step  by  step,  until  he  had  reached  the  brink  of 
the  causeway,  where  with  a  fell  swoop  upon  his  helmet  the  Span- 
iard fell  and  rolled  over  the  embankment  nearly  to  the  edge  of 
the  water,  stunned  and  apparently  lifeless. 

Malmiztic  waited  not  a  rnoment,  but  dashed  on  after  the  old 
soldier  and  Tecalco,  who  had  reached  one  of  the  sluices  or 
canals,  and  by  the  extraordinary  power  of  the  black  mare  were 
enabled  to  pass  to  the  other  side  ;  but  here,  the  violent  struggles 
of  the  animal,  in  attempting  to  mount  the  miry  shore,  only 
♦plunged  it  deeper  in  the  soft,  black  mud.  In  every  effort  to  ex- 
tricate itself,  the  animal  plunged  violently,  but  the  result  was 
each. time  to  weaken  and  sink  the  noble  beast  under  the  oppres- 
sive weight  which  it  bore. 

Numbers  of  the  enemy  now  swarmed  around  those  on  horse- 
back, in  the  midst  of  the  water ;  the  Aztecs  strove  to  sink  the  steed, 
and  to  pull  the  old  Spaniard  from  his  saddle.  This  they  at  last'^c- 
ceeded  in,  by  force,  and  in  spite  of  his  desperate  struggles,  the 
old  man,  pierced  by  a  hundred  arrows,  and  cut  fearfully  in  the 
head  by  a  blow  of  a  lance,  from  which  the  blood  streamed  into 
his  eyes,  grew  giddy  and  faint  from  bleeding  and  weakness,  and 
they  dragged  him  into  the  dark  and  bloody  waters,  and  in  a  few 
moments  beads  of  foam  came  bubbling  up  from  the  spot  where 
the  grey  head  of  the  old  man  sank  in  the  dark  canal. 

At  this  instant,  Malmiztic  reached  the  opposite  side  of  the 
sluice,  and  seeing,  through  the  dusky  gloom  of  the  red  light,  a 
white  form  floating  upon  the  water,  his  quick  thought  divined  it 
to  be  the  princess,  and  instantly  he  sprang  into  the  canal,  half 
choked  with  dead  bodies  and  living  swimmers,  and  had  just 
reached  the  spot  where  he  had  seen  the  figure  before  it  disap- 
peared. Sudden  as  an  otter,  his  dark  form  descended  where  the 
body  sank,  and  by  chance  he  caught  upon  the  loose  robes  of  an 
object  at  the  bottom  of  the  stream,  and  grasping  the  form  he 
rose  to  the  surface.     The  lurid  glare  of  the  distant  fire  fell  upon 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  261 

the  pale  face  of  Tecalco  !  and  Malraiztic's  heart  shrank  within 
him,  for  death  seemed  in  her  countenance.  A  few  powerful 
strokes  brought*  the  Toltec  and  his  charge  to  the  shore,  where, 
upon  the  verge  of  the  causeway,  he  poured  the  strangling  water 
from  her  throat,  pressed  her  chest,  and  rolled  her  body  to  and 
fro — but  no  spark  of  vitality  appeared.  Wildly  he  threw  back 
her  long,  dripping  tresses,  and  violently  he  chafed  her  form  with 
his  hands,  and  stared  strangely  into  her  motionless  face ;  he 
pressed  his  cheek  to  her  mouth — but  ther^  was  no  breath — he 
started  half  back,  frantic,  and  again  rapidly  rubbed  the  body — 
but  movement  there  was  none.  The  Toltec  clasped  his  brow  with 
his  hands,  horror  stricken  ;  his  large  black  eyes  quivered  in  their 
sockets,  as  he  gazed  on  the  lovely  but  ghastly  features  before 
him.  Suddenly  he  bent  over  her,  and  pressing  his  lips  firmly 
upon  those  of  the  pale  girl,  he  breathed  into  her  mouth  a  full,,, 
strong  breath  ;  instantly  her  lungs  filled,  and  a  tremor  ran  through 
her  whole  frame.  Malmiztic  felt  the  thrill,  and  hope  sprang  jip  in 
his  heart.  Again  he  breathed  upon  her  lips,  and,  like  one  startled 
from  a  dream,  she  breathed  ! — quick  and  heavily.  Respiration 
now  came  free,  but  a  heart-sickness  came  over  her — new  death- 
throe* — but  yet  she  breathed,  and  her  black  eyes  opened  in  her 
pallid  face,  and  Malmiztic  lifted  her  up  in  his  arms. 

By  this  time,  Alvarado,  who  had  regained  his  strength  from 
the  stunning  blow,  arose  from  the  edge  of  the  water,  and  mounted 
the  causeway,  when  a  party  of  Aztecs  set  suddenly  upon  him. 
He  was 'weakened  greatly,  and  although  he  struggled  manfully, 
the  numbers  were  crushing  him.  Feeling  the  contest  hopeless, 
he  cried  for  his  companions — but  they  answered  not — no  voices 
came,  save  far  away  in  the  distance  the  hum  of  contest  mingled 
with  ttie  cries  and  counter  cries  of  the  contending  hosts.  Alva- 
rado fled,  shouting  piteously  and  imploringly,  pursued  by  a  party 
of  Aztecs,  who  howled  at  his  heels  like  famished  wolves. 

At  length  he  came  to  a  canal,  whose  sluggish,  deep  stream 
presented  an  impassable  barrier ;  he  now  turned  and  faced  the 
foe,  in  the  last  hopeless  state  of  desperation.  His  wild  cries 
even  reached  the  ears  of  Cortes,  far  ahead  upon  the  causeway. 

"  Hark  !"  said  the  general,  *'  what  voice  is  that  ?  By  heaven, 
*tis  Alvarado.     Holy  Virgin,  he  must  be  saved  1'* 


262  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

"It  is  death,  certain  death  to  turn  back,"  rephed  an  officer  to 
Cortes. 

**  What !  must  he  perish  ?"  cried  Cortes,  veheftiently. 

**  No  power  can  save  him,"  returned  the  knight. 

'*  By  the  blood  of  Christ  and  the  Cross,  he  shall  not  die 
alone,"  exclaimed  the  brave  general.  "  Is  there  no  Spaniard 
here  to  follow  me  to  rescue  him  ?  Hark  !  he  cries  again  !  In 
the  name  of  Santiago,  is  there  a  man  of  Castile  who  can  hear 
that  cry,  and  still  refuse  him  aid  ?     I  will  go,  if  I  go  alone  !" 

With  these  words,  Cortes  turned  the  head  of  his  horse  towards 
the  city,  and,  striking  his  spurs  into  him,  galloped  back  on  the 
causeway.  A  dozen  brave  knights,  on  horseback,  in  an  instant 
came  clattering  on  behind  him. 

Malmiztic  beheld  them  coming,  and  lay  quietly  on  the  earth, 
as  if  dead,  with  his  fair  ward.  The  cavaliers  charged  on  until 
they  came  to  the  canal.  Cortes  hesitated  not,  but  plunged  in, 
and  instantly  his  horse  foundered  in  the  mud.  Every  exertion 
of  the  knights  was  necessary  to  pluck  him  from  his  perilous  po- 
sition. 

At  this  moment,  they  could  discover,  through  the  gloom,  on 
the  other  side  of  the  broad  canal,  the  form  of  Alvarado,  flying 
towards  them,  hotly  pursued  by  a  fierce  party  of  Mexicans,  who 
sent  at  him  a  shower  of  arrows,  which  made  Cortes  and  his 
knights  turn  away — when  a  voice  cried  with  the  most  heart- 
rending tones  : 

**  For  Christ's  sake,  leave  me  not ;  I  am  Alvarado  1" 

**  Plunge  into  the  canal,"  cried  one  of  the  knights. 

**Nay,"  shouted  Cortes,  "try  it  not;  thine  armor  will  sink 
thee !" 

"  God  help  me !"  he  cried,  throwing  his  heavy  broadsword 
away,  and  stooping  to  the  earth,  he  picked  up  from  the  causeway 
a  long-handled,  copper-headed  lance,  and  wheeling  it  around  his 
head,  with  both  hands,  he  drove  back  the  enemy,  when,  with  the 
full  velocity  of  his  extraordinary  agile  frame,  he  flew  to  the  brink 
of  the  canal,  and  planting  his  spear  in  the  deep,  black  mud  at  the 
bottom,  he  strung  his  sinews  for  one  tremendous  bound,  and  his 
active  form  went  flying  through  the  air,  over  the  lance,  like  a 
night-bird  sailing  through  the  gloom.     It  was  a  fearful  spring, 


THE  CAVALIER8  OF  THE  CROSS.  263 

but  he  bounded  away  through  the  air,  over  the  canal,  heaped 
with  its  dead,  and  alighted  in  the  quagmire  on  the  other  side, 
but  fell  backwards  in  the  black  and  muddy  stream,  and  was  sink- 
ing in  the  Stygian  waters,  when  Cortes  rushed  to  the  shore,  and 
reached  him  the  handle  of  a  pike  ;  Alvarado  clasped  it  with  a 
death-gripe,  and  the  Spanish  general  drew  him  safe  ashore.  A 
shout  of  exultation  involuntarily  burst  from  the  band  of  brave 
knights  at  the  delivery  of  their  chivalrous  companion,  and  turn- 
ing again  towards  Tlacopan,  they  hastened  to  join  the  few  scat- 
tered troops  under  Sandoval,  which  survived  and  constituted  the 
main  army.  In  vain  the  knights  prayed  Cortes  to  take  one  of 
their  horses,  but  he  resolutely  refused,  and  marched  hastily  along 
on  foot,  by  the  side  of  Alvarado.  Suddenly,  as  they  were  pro- 
gressing rapidly,  Alvarado  exclaimed  : 

** By  Santiago  and  the  Virgin!  behold  the  princess  and  that 
dark  idolater  !" 

"  By  my  conscience,  it  is  true,"  exclaimed  Cortes,  in  return, 
as  he  boldly  advanced  to  seize  them,  followed  by  the  remaining 
cavaliers,  who  drew  their  swords  and  struck  at  the  Toltec,  who 
was  half  supporting  the  form  of  the  princess.  Instantly  he  re- 
leased her,  and  swept  his  brilliant  sword  around  so  rapidly,  and 
caught  the  coming  blades  so  quick,  that  a  ring  of  fire  played 
about  his  head,  from  the  surrounding  sparks  which  flew  from  the 
flashing  steel. 

"Hosts  of  heaven  !  surely  this  is  the  demon  !"  cried  Cortes,  as 
he  beheld  the  {"orce  and  skill  with  which  Malmiztic  defended  him- 
self, upon  the  brink  of  the  causeway,  thereby  keeping  his  foes  all 
before  him.  The  ringing  of  Malmiztic's  mysterious  weapon 
sounded  like  the  clash  of  fifty  swords,  more  than  like  one,  and 
attracted  a  party  of  Aztecs  from  the  lake,  who  leaped  ashore, 
and  rushed  to  the  rescue  of  the  Toltec. 

Cortes  fell  back  petrified,  as  he  beheld,  by  the  crimson  glare 
of  the  fading  fire,  the  snow-white  head  and  ebon  eyes  of  Cacama. 
It  was  an  appalling  spectre,  which  chilled  his  blood  to  behold ; 
the  pallid  face  and  ghastly  glare  of  the  Tezcucan's  gaze  unnerved 
him.  The  figure  seemed  more  an  apparition  from  a  sepulchre, 
than  a  real  and  living  being. 

Instantly,  the  Aztecs  attacked   the  Christians,  and   Cacama, 


254  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    ETC. 

seeing  Cortes  stoop  to  seize  the  princess,  fell  fiercely  upon  him 
with  a  maquahuitl.  Cortes  struck  it  in  twain  with  a  blow,  and 
Cacama  immediately  drew  a  sword  of  itzli,  but  the  Toledo- 
tempered  blade  of  the  Spaniard  shivered  it  like  a  piece  of  porce- 
lain. With  this,  the  fiery  Tezcucan  rushed  back  to  snatch  a 
weapon  from  the  dead,  who  strewed  the  earth  around  the  spot, 
and  Cortes  again  made  a  grasp  for  the  princess.  Two  cavaliers 
were  hand  to  hand  with  Malmiztic,  and  the  general,  watching  the 
opportunity,  seized  Tecalco  cautiously  behind  the  back  of  the 
Toltec,  and  escaped  with  her  to  the  other  side  of  the  causeway, 
where  he  was  once  more  confronted  by  Cacama,  with  a  maqua- 
huitl  in  hand,  which  the  Tezcucan  had  found. 

**  Fly  with  the  girl,"  said  Cortes,  hastily,  to  Alvarado.  "  Mount 
the  nearest  horse  and  away  !'* 

To  follow  his  directions  was  the  work  of  but  a  few  seconds ; 
but  in  that  short  space  Tecalco  beheld  Cacama  rush  furiously 
upon  Cortes  with  his  maquahuitl,  and  in  an  instant  the  ferocious 
Castilian  hewed  down  the  weapon  with  his  sword,  and  immedi- 
ately the  Tezcucan  ran  up  and  clenched  him  by  the  throat  and 
almost  strangled  the  Christian  before  he  could  make  use  of  his 
sword.  At  length,  Cortes,  by  a  convulsive  struggle,  escaped 
from  his  grasp,  by  drawing  a  dagger  at  the  same  time  with  his 
left  hand,  and  burying  it  in  the  side  of  Cacama,  while  with  his 
right,  he  gave  a  desperate  sword-thrust  which  pierced  the  heart 
of  the  ghastly  prince,  who  gave  one  shriek  of  agony  and  per- 
ished at  the  foot  of  the  Spanish  commander. 

By  this  time,  a  host  of  Aztecs,  that  covered  the  causeway,  had 
come  to  the  assistance  of  the  Toltec,  who  had  laid  several  of  the 
knights  on  the  wet  earth,  as  he  stood  at  bay.  Seeing  the  folly 
of  opposing  such  numbers,  the  horsemen  wheeled  suddenly 
around,  and  Cortes  and  Alvarado,  catching  the  steeds  of  their 
dead  companions,  mounted  them  ard  galloped  off  likewise,  the 
brave  and  daring  commander  bea  ing  with  him  the  half-lifeless 
form  of  Tecalco. 

They  were  clattering  over  the  stones  far  up  the  causeway,  be- 
fore the  Toltec's  bewildered  mind  first  caught  the  thought  that 
the  princess  was  gone,  ^.^hen  looking  around  for  her,  by  the  first 
pale   streaks  of   light   and   the   dying  gleams   of   the  fire,  the 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF   THE    CROSS.  255 

dreadful  idea  came  upon  liim  that  she  was  murdered.  He  ran 
frantically  to  the  brink  of  the  canal,  and  there  lay  upon  the  miry 
shore  the  same  sash  and  scarf  which  she  was  accustomed  to 
wear.  He  plunged  into  the  stream,  but  no  sign  could  he  find  of 
her  ;  he  dived  in  the  bloody  waters,  but  came  up  hopeless.  He 
next  ran  on  to  overtake  the  troop  of  horse  which  had  just  fled, 
but  his  chase  was  vain — they  were  out  of  sight,  and  only  could 
be  heard  through  the  cold  grey  mists  of  the  first  hour  of  the 
dawn,  shouting  to  their  companions  ahead  with  Sandoval,  who 
returned  their  shouts  with  cheers  and  cries  of,  "  God  speed  thee, 
Cortes  !  Santa  Maria  and  Santiago,  save  thee  !" 

When  Cortes  and  his  comrades  came  up  with  Sandoval,  he 
shrank  aghast  with  dismay  to  behold  what  a  mere  remnant  was 
left  of  all  his  host.  His  heart  sickened  at  the  sio^ht  of  the  hand- 
ful  which  remained,  wounded  and  wearied,  a  fearful  wreck  of  his 
gallant  band,  while  the  enemy,  drawing  gradually  off,  as  the  first 
gleams  of  day  were  breaking,  sent  up  yells  and  howk  of  the 
wildest  exultation,  and  lingered  on  the  skirts  of  the  little  train  of 
Christians,  with  their  myriads,  in  all  the  triumphant  glory  of 
victory.  As  the  streaks  of  light  brightened,  thousands  of  boats, 
like  night-birds  fleeing  from  the  day,  skimmed  over  the  misty 
surface  of  the  lake,  and  bore  to  the  city  many  a  Christian  captive 
and  hundreds  of  Tlascalans. 

By  dull  degrees  the  enemy  drew  off  entirely,  and  the  Chris- 
tians, with  their  allies,  reached  the  main  land,  at  Popotla.  Cortes 
at  once,  before  it  was  light,  called  a  review,  and,  to  the  unspeak- 
able horror  of  them  all,  four  hundred  and  fifty  of  his  brave 
Spaniards  answered  not  to  their  names,  and  four  thousand  of 
their  true  and  noble-souled  auxiliaries,  slept  the  sleep  of  death 
along  that  fatal  causeway,  or  lay  buried  in  the  bosom  of  the  lake, 
or  sadder  still,  were  borne  away  to,  captivity- and  sacrifice,  in  the 
hands  of  their  heartless  enemy,  and  to  the  dungeons  of  the  temple 
of  their  bloody  war-god.  Beside  the  bodies  which  strewed  the 
deadly  pathway,  six  and  forty  of  their  hgrsee.lay  dead  upon  the 
causeway,  or  strangled  in  the  thick  mud  of  tlafe  canal.  The  great 
treasure  with  which  they  had  started,  was  scattered  and  lost,  and 
more  important  than  all,  their  artillery  was  irrecoverably  gone, 
except  a  few  light  pieces  of  ordnance.     Nearly  all  were  wounded, 


256  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

and  never  did  the  dawn  break  upon  a  host  more  haggard  and  dis- 
pirited. Every  eye  was  downcast  and  dim  ;  every  heart  was 
hopeless.  Wretchedness  would  here  have  wept  to  behold  her 
own  image,  in  the  once  proud-souled,  high-hearted  Hernando 
Cortes.  Never  looked  mortal  being  more  woe-begone ;  his  face 
was  blank  and  pallid ;  his  eye  was  dead  in  its  socket,  as  he 
glanced  up  at  the  breaking  beams  of  day,  as  they  came  grey  and 
glimmering  out  of  the  pale,  silver  east.  He  bent  his  gaze  upon 
the  wretched  wreck  of  his  followers,  and  hope,  which  had  been 
mountain-high  in  his  heart,  and  lighted  with  ambition,  now  sank 
to  a  lake  of  liquid  lava,  burning  in  his  bosom.  Once  more  he 
gazed  upon  them,  and  burying  his  face  in  his  hands,  he  sank  upon 
a  cold  stone,  at  the  dead  hour  of  the  dawn,  and  bursting  into  a 
flood  of  tears,  wept  in  the  unchecked  bitterness  of  his  heart.  It 
was  a  piteous  spectacle  to  behold  the  man  whose  unflinching  en- 
ergy and  daring  spirit  had  risen  triumphant  over  the  countless 
obstacles  which  intercepted  his  path,  and  in  the  vaulting  ambition 
of  his  soul,  risen  above  the  low  mists  which  dampen  the  ardor  of 
meaner  spirits,  and  like  an  upsoaring  condor,  sunned  his  shining 
pinions  in  the  golden  beams  of  glory  ;  towering  through  the  moun- 
tain-clouds of  heaven,  and  baring  his  breast  to  the  thunder-bolt, 
and  the  storm-spirit's  rushing  breath; — now  struck,  as  if  by 
the  lightning-lance  of  God,  midway  in  his  upward  career,  hurled 
back  to  the  earth,  blackened  and  blasted,  like  Satan  and  his 
angels,  dropping  and  falling  back  from  the  empyrean.  Here 
were  the  palaces  of  his  ambition,  whose  pinnacles,  at  nightfall, 
pierced  the  canopy  of  the  clouds,  and  shot  aloft  into  the  clear, 
blue  heights  of  heaven  ;  now,  in  the  sombre  shadows  of  the  morning 
mist,  a  fallen  mass  of  ruins,  over  which  desolation,  like  an  earth- 
quake spirit,  stalked,  and  gazed  upon  the  wreck  which  a  single 
night  had  made.  Hitherto  his  daring  and  genius  had  but  to 
conceive  a  thoueht,  and  Fortune,  with  her  mamc  wand,  would 
work  it  out  successfully.  He  had  laughed  in  the  face  of  hard- 
ship, borne  sufl'ering  and  disappointment  with  tranquillity.  Risen 
from  every  reverse,  like  Anteus  from  the  earth  ;  redoubled  in  his 
might,  and  ready  again  to  look  danger  in  the  eye,  and  pluck  the 
laurel  of  victory  from  the  skeleton  hand  of  death.  Led  ever  on 
by  Hope,  who  stretched  her  unending  canvass  of  the  time  to 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  267 

come,  and  clothed  it  in  all  the  gorgeous  coloring  of  her  rainbow 
pencil.  A  glorious  angel,  Hope — clad  in  the  habiliments  of 
Heaven,  and  with  extended  arm  ever  pointing  to  the  gorgeous 
vista  just  bursting  into  view,  and.  growing  brighter  with  every 
step  of  his  advancement,  disclosing  new  realms,  and  opening  fresh 
fields  for  his  conquest  and  occupancy. 

Hernando  Cortes  sat  upon  the  cold  rock,  in  the  grey  glimpses 
of  the  morning ;  his  own  history  rose  in  his  mind,  and  passed 
like  a  phantasmal  panorama  from  the  hour  when  with  his  little 
fleet,  he  cut  the  cables  and  stood  out  by  night,  in  search  of  the 
unknown  empires  of  the  west,  to  the  time  when'  he  had  planted 
his  triumphant  banner  of  the  Cross  and  Castile  on  the  pinnacle 
of  the  temple  of  Mexitli,  and  was  master  of  the  mightiest  mon- 
arch that  ever  swayed  the  rod  of  empire  in  the  land  of  the  setting 
sun.  Tracing  his  own  course  and  his  handful  of  chivalrous  asso- 
ciates, until  by  unequalled  prowess,  he  had  conquered  countless 
hosts,  and  leagued  them  to  himself  and  to  his  cause.  How  they 
had  started  forth,  a  few  poor  soldiers  of  fortune — adventurers, 
whose  chief  means  consisted  of  a  suit  of  mail,  or  a  stout-limbed 
steed,  with  scarce  ducats  enough  to  have  bought  a  peasant's  hut 
on  the  slopes  of  the  Sierra  Morena,  or  a  fisherman's  shed  on  the 
silver  shores  of  the  Guadalquiver,  by  a  sudden  freak  of  fortune, 
and  their  own  indefatigable  fortitude  and  enterprise,  suddenly 
changed  to  the  possessors  of  riches,  which  would  have  purchased 
the  palaces  of  a  Venetian  duke,  or  the  Doge  himself;  but  now  as 
fleeting  as  an  Aurora  Borealis,  whose  shadowy  splendors  glow 
over  the  icebergs  of  the  pole  ;  behold  it  all  depart,  and  a  black 
night  close  with  its  gloomy  darkness  over  the  brilliant  and  beauti- 
ful vision  of  empire  and  power,  which  had  just  burst  upon  them 
in  its  transcendent  glory.  Cortes  felt  that  his  adventures  had 
been  as  one  who,  seeking  for  the  lost  Atlantis,  emerges  suddenly 
upon  the  golden  glories  of  El  Dorado,  and  finds  himself  in  reality 
like  Sinbad  of  the  oriental  romance,  in  the  midst  of  the  valley 
of  diamonds.  Thus  far  his  star  of  fate  was  shorn  not  of  a  beam  ; 
he  had  burst  in  upon  a  silent  land  with  his  few  cavaliers,  terrible 
as  a  sudden  comet  with  its  fiery  train  ;  he  had  bid  defiance  to 
Velasquez  in  Cuba,  and  to  the  threatened  thunders  of  the  Bishop 
of  Burgos,  in  Spain.  He  had  crushed  a  hydra-headed  mutiny 
22 


268  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

among  his  own  men,  and  made  a  bonfire  of  all  their  means  of 
escape.  He  had  captured  the  captain,  who  had  been  sent  to  take 
him  into  captivity.  He  had  run  over  a  continent,  and  conquered 
a  realm  which  would  shame  the  achievements  of  Caesar.  He  had 
wrought,  in  a  few  months,  with  a  handful  of  knights,  a  work,  to 
rival  Alexander  with  his  hosts,  and  headed  a  party  more  chivalric 
and  invincible  thaia  the  proudest  paladins  that  ever  Godfrey  or 
Richard  led  through  Palestine,  to  thunder  at  the  gates  of  the 
Holy  City  of  the  Sepulchre.  He  had  borne  the  blazing  banner 
of  the  Cross  into  the  very  chaos  of  heathenism.  He  had  borne 
the  shining  order  of  his  patron  saint  over  the  waste  of  waters,  and 
carried  it,  glittering  on  his  breast,  into  the  vast  wilderness  of  the 
west,  when  not  a  cross  pointed  to  heaven  between  the  white- 
sheeted  ice-mountains  of  Bhering,  in  the  north,  and  the  glass- 
green  towers  of  ice  which  sink  a  thousand  fathoms  in  Magellan's 
roaring  straits,  and  flash  back  the  foam  when  the  night-stormi 
hurtles  over  the  dark  and  frozen  peaks  of  Patagonia.  Not  a  spire 
shot  its  shining  shaft  up  to  the  western  sun.  Not  a  bell  tolled  its 
deep  and  solemn  chime  to  call  mortals  to  their  Maker's  altar;  but 
in  the  lone,  green  recesses  of  the  luxuriant  forest,  sightless  idols 
reared  their  gigantic  figures  aloft,  side  by  side  with  the  monster 
oaks,  and  gazed  glaringly  and  vacantly  with  their  stony  eyes  upon 
the  flower-mantled  earth,  and  heathen  altars  buried  in  the  almost 
impenetrable  bosom  of  the  dark,  dense  wilderness,  blushed  in  the 
leafy  shade  with  the  red  stains  of  human  sacrifice.  And  he, 
Hernando  Cortes,  had  been  the  pioneer  to  plant  in  those  seques- 
tered spots,  the  emblem  of  our  Saviour's  suffering,  and  first  to 
make  the  untaught  echoes  of  those  woods,  answer  to  the  hynm 
of  praise,  sent  up  to  Him  who  liveth  forever  and  ever !  and  to 
him  had  been  given  the  keys  of  the  Island  Queen,  the  metropolis 
of  the  western  world,  the  sovereignty  of  the  city,  whose  sway 
was  confined  only  by  the  two  mighty  oceans  of  earth,  whose 
boundaries  were  belted  by  the  lands  of  perpetual  snow  upon  the 
north,  and  those  mysterious,  idol-haunted  wildernesses  and  groves 
of  Guatemala,  dark  with  their  green  and  polished  leaves,  and 
bloom-bearing,  creeping  vines.  But  now,  as  he  cast  his  glance 
around  him,  behold  what  a  scene  !  All  his  jft-oud  works,  like 
pictures  and  figures  drawn  upon  a  sandy  beach  at  even-tide,  the 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  259 

rolling  wave  of  a  single  night  had  swept  away  in  darkness,  and 
day  dawned  upon  the  magic  map,  filled  up  and  blotted  out  from 
existence.  The  charmed  ink  with  which  his  fortune  had  been 
written  in  letters  of  gold  at  sunset,  faded  like  the  gift  of  a  fairy 
before  the  morrow,  and  the  scroll  of  his  destiny  illuminated  and 
emblazoned  with  brilliant  achievements,  was  now  a  blank,  and 
the  shining  volume  which  recorded  his  triumphs,  was  a  black 
book,  dyed  by  the  dark  and  bloody  waters  of  Tezcuco,  whose  in- 
delible stain  no  alchemy  could  extract. 

Cortes  sat  upon  the  cold  stone  at  the  dead  time  of  the  dawn, 
and  silently  surveyed  the  wreck  and  ruin  before  him  ;  the  dead 
strewed  the  earth  ;  his  late  proud  host,  now  dwindled  to  a  scanty 
band,  stood  around  him  like  haggard  spectres  haunting  the  spot, 
and  gazing  to  see  the  ghosts  of  their  companions ;  they  wept 
not ;  theirs  was  a  silent  woe — too  deep  for  tears — a  shock  which 
froze  the  heart's  spring,  rather  than  forcing  its  waters  to  over- 
flow the  eye.  But  Cortes  was  unmanned,  overthrown,  ship- 
wrecked at  heart,  wholly  dispirited,  and  dejected  ;  his  energy  was 
crushed  to  a  child's  weakness,  and  the  conqueror  of  kings  gazed 
upon  his  own  wounded  frame,  and  then  upon  his  rusted,  blood- 
clotted  sword,  which  lay  bare  before  him,  having  done  all  that  it 
could  for  the  fallen  fortunes  of  its  master — he  who  had  stood  up 
sternly  and  borne  the  brunt  of  battle — he,  the  high,  proud,  bold, 
chivalric  Cortes,  drooped  his  head,  and  clasping  his  hands 
together,  burst  into  a  flood  of  irresistible  tears.  It  was  a  strange 
and  touching  picture,  to  see  pride  so  weighed  down  by  sorrow, 
to  see  the  flowers  of  hope  crushed  under  the  feet  of  disappoint- 
ment, and  the  proud,  climbing  vine  of  ambition,  towering  heaven- 
ward, blighted  in  a  night,  and  all  the  leaves  and  blossoms  of  its 
promise  blasted  and  withered  upon  the  stem.  It  was  a  sad  sight 
to  see  a  man  weep,  and  such  a  man,  a  stern,  hardy,  iron-armed 
soldier — a  bold,  daring,  fierce  cavalier — a  bearded  warrior,  with 
a  fiery  gaze,  now  turned  to  a  sorrowing  and  heart-stricken  boy, 
witli  sad,  dim  eyes,  dropping  tears  like  a  cold  icicle  in  the  warm 
glances  of  the  ruddy  morning  sun  ; — and  as  the  highest  soaring 
hope  must  ever  have  the  greatest  fall,  so  did  the  gorgeous 
dreams  of  wealthrand  dominion,  in  fading  away,  leave  a  cold  and 
bleak  reality.     How  sad  then  the  band  who  had  looked  to  the 


260  THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS. 

eye  of  that  leader  for  their  hght  and  hope,  when  the  fire  which 
he  infused  by  a  glance,  had  gone  out,  and  that  clear,  clarion 
voice  had  sunken  into  hopeless  sadness  and  despondency  !  How 
changed  was  this  from  the  front  and  port  of  him,  who  but  a  few 
months  before  had  entered  the  capital  amid  the  firing  of  cannon 
and  the  acclamations  of  the  multitude  ;  who  rode  his  proud  war- 
horse  with  such  martial  magnificence,  while  his  well-appointed 
knights,  with  military  equipment  and  order  worthy  of  the  most 
courtly  lists  of  Christendom,  followed,  glittering  in  their  burn- 
ished harness  of  steel — now  a  defeated  general  with  a  wretched 
fragment  of  an  army,  expelled  from  the  fairest  city  of  the  broad 
west,  an  outcast  and  wanderer  at  the  caprice  of  the  merest 
chance,  and  the  vilest  foe,  leading  back  the  few  and  wounded 
allies  yet  living  to  tell  their  mournful  tale,  in  the  proud  city  of 
Tlascala,  and  to  make  the  wife  turn  pale  to  hear  that  her  lord 
perished  on  the  dread  causeway,  and  the  old  man  to  tremble  as 
he  heard  how  his  son  was  borne  away  in  the  canoes  of  the  foe- 
men,  over  the  black  waters  of  the  lake,  to  dungeons  which 
opened  not  upon  day,  save  for  sacrifice. 

And  this  was  the  morrow  of  Noche  Triste! — The  Mournful 
Night ! — a  period  which  will  be  a  spot  of  terror  in  the  world's 
history,  as  long  as  a  green  water-flag  shall  wave  by  the  margin 
of  the  blue  Tezcuco,  where  the  fisherman,  to  this  day,  looks 
down  through  the  clear  depths  for  the  golden  bars  cast  awaj 
by  the  fugitives,  or  pulls  up,  with  his  boat-hook,  from  the  muddy 
bottom,  the  brazen  casque  of  some  Christian  cavalier. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


Cortes  and  his  scattered  band  pursued  their  way  on  to  Po- 
potla;  from  thence  they  again  marched  on  through  the  valley  of 
the  lakes,  gradually  making  their  course  through  the  rising  table 
lands  towards  Tlascala.  The  march  was  a  very  loose  one,  little 
care  being  taken  for  discipline  ;  here  and  there  could  be  seen  a 
band  of  knights  with  their  stained  and  rusted  armor,  amid  a 
party  of  half  clad  Indians,  wending  their  way  across  the  green 
fields,  or  couples  would  be  loitering  behind  recounting  to  each 
other  their  narrow  chances  of  escape  from  the  terrors  of  Noche 
Triste,  or  telling  of  desperate  defences  and  the  loss  of  countless 
wealth,  the  treasure  with  which  he  had  hoped  to  have  purchased 
some  sweet,  vine-covered  cot  in  Andalusia. 

Among  the  parties  who  thus  lingered  in  the  distance,  from  the 
main  body  of  the  troops,  was  a  handsome  knight,  mounted  upon 
a  spirited,  glossy -black  mare,  and  by  his  side  a  female  was  riding 
on  a  palfrey,  a  mode  of  travel  to  which  she  was  evidently  unac- 
customed, from  her  timid  manner  of  managing  the  animal. 

**  Beautiful  Tecalco !"  said  the  knight,  who  was  Alvarado, 
"grieve  not  thus;  these  tears,  which  gem  those  eyes,  must  be 
chased  away ;  true,  thou  hast  lost  thy  friends,  but  thou  shalt  find 
shelter  with  hearts  which  will  love  thee  more  than  ever  thou  hast 
been  loved,  and  thou  shalt  be  far  happier  than  in  the  midst  of 
these  heathens  and  their  abominations." 

The  maiden  rephed  in  her  native  tongue,  in  which  language 
Alvarado  had  addressed  her : 

**  It  lies  not  in  the  power  of  man  to  blot  from  my  memory  the 
recollection  of  home  and  friends — my  heart  will  pine  when  severed 
from  them." 

**Lady,"  answered  the  other,  "if  thou  wilt  go  with  me,  I  will 

(261) 


262  MALMIZTIC,  THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

bear  thee  to  a  land  of  beauty,  to  the  home  of  my  heart,  >*> 
Spain  !" 

''But  that  home,"  replied  Tecalco,  "  will  be  far  from  the  home 
of  my  heart.  How  shall  I  live  when  every  face  is  a  stranger  to 
me  ?  In  thy  unknown  land  my  spirit  would  silently  decline,  and 
not  a  soul  would  bear  me  sympathy.'* 

**  Beautiful  lady!"  exclaimed  the  Spaniard,  "you  wrong  me 
deeply,  I  will  love  thee,  love  thee  fondly  and  forever ;  I  will 
share  with  thee  a  palace,  where  the  bright-green  forests  of  the 
Morena  flourish,  and  the  vine-dotted  valleys  stretch  out  at  our 
feet  in  unending  scenes  of  beauty  ;  silver  rivers,  flowing  through 
emerald  meads,  and  winding  amid  dark  olive  groves,  shall  cheer 
thy  sight ;  the  honey  breath  of  a  million  crimson-lipped  and  gold- 
eyed  flowers  shall  waft  their  incense  to  thee;  and  hard  by, 
groves,  blushing  with  blossoms  and  clustering  with  yellow  and 
scarlet  fruits,  shall  shelter  ever-playing  fountains  ;  and  amid  the 
leaves  the  matchless  nightingale,  with  its  music-loving  soul,  shall 
wake  such  melodies  that  thou  shalt  deem  it  the  bird  which  sings 
in  thy  fabled  paradise." 

"Nay,"  replied  the  naiden,  "couldst  thou  bear  me  to  a  land 
whose  beauty  outshines  all  the  earth's  loveliness,  it  would  not 
delight  me,  were  those  whom  I  love  not  there.  Heaven  would 
be  naked  and  void,  could  we  not  meet  therein  the  souls  of  those 
whom  we  love." 

"Ah !"  said  Alvarado,  with  surprise,  "  thou  hast  faith  in  im- 
mortality !  then  will  I  love  thee  more  than  ever.  I  might  have 
known  that  the  lovely  soul  which  sits  in  those  deep  and  beautiful 
eyes  claimed  kindred  with  holier  spheres  ; — but  whence,  maiden, 
comes  thy  belief  in  happiness  hereafter  ?" 

"From  one,"  answered  Tecalco,  "whose  eye  reads  the  stars 
of  ^heaven,  and  who  holds  silent  converse  and  communion  with 
the  speechless  palms  upon  the  mountain,  and  the  wild  fairy  spirits 
whose  delicate  fingers  open  the  leaves  of  the  night-flowers  ;  one 
who  talks  with  the  dread,  mysterious  presences,  which  no  mortal 
eye  can  see — who  whispers  to  the  winds,  and  they  answer  him — 
and  whose  heart  holds  the  full  sympathy  with  humanity  in  every 
throb." 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  263 

*'Whom  meanest  thou?"  questioned  the  cavalier. 

"Hast  thou  not  heard,"  replied  Tecalco,  ''of  Malmiztic,  the 
Revered,  the  philosopher,  the  believer  in  the  one  invisible  God  ?" 

"Ay,"  answered  Alvarado,  as  the  thought  suddenly  flashed 
over  him,  "  didst  thou  love  him  ?" 

"  Love  him  !"  returned  the  Aztec  maid,  **  does  the  bee  love 
the  blossom,  the  wild  deer  the  shady  glen,  the  swallow  the  balmy, 
breeze  and  the  blue  billow  ?  Love  him ! — there  is  a  spring  of 
love  and  sunshine  in  my  heart,  where  his  image  ever  plays  upon 
its  depths  ;  night  and  day  he  is  reflected  there,  as  stars  seen  from 
a  deep  well,  are  ever  set  in  heaven  the  same,  be  there  sun  or 
moon  above — so,  by  day  and  darkness,  grief  and  gladness,  weal 
or  woe,  does  the  thought  of  him  live  within  me,  and  all  of  earth 
may  pass  away,  my  body  perish  like  a  broken  cactus,  but  my 
soul  will  seek  him  in  spheres  beyond  the  realms  over  which 
death  stretches,  his  dark  wings — and  I  will  follow  him  through 
sphere  after  sphere,  in  his  flight  to  eternity,  as  the  shadow  upon 
the  wave  follows  the  snowy  sea-bird  over  the  world  of  waters." 

"I  am  sorry  thou  didst  love  him  thus,"  said  Alvarado,  droop- 
ing his  head,  as  if  in  grief." 

"Why  dost  thou  sorrow?"  questioned  the  maid. 

"Because,"  replied  the  Cavalier,  "thou  art  a  captive  to 
Cortes." 

"Heaven  help  me!"  exclaimed  Tecalco,  "then  I  am  lost. 
Has  he  no  heart?  will  he  not  heed  my  prayers  ?" 

Alvarado  replied,  "  Thou  little  knowest  him,  lady  ;  his  bosom 
melts  not  at  the  tear  of  the  sorrowful,  or  the  voice  of  the  com- 
plaining. He  would  tell  thee  he  loves  thee,  but  he  loves  thee 
not ;  but  I,  gentle  lady,  feel  more  for  thee  than  expression  can 
tell.  In  my  own  home  I  have  seen  those  who  were  beautiful,  but 
they  blessed  not  my  vision  as  thou  dost,  for  I  have  never  loved 
until  I  beheld  those  orbs  of  thine,  where  loveliness  sits  in  the 
midst  of  shadows,  and  gazes  forth  upon  the  world  like  an  angel 
of  light." 

"Then  if  thou  lovest  me,"  said  Tecalco,  "save  me  from 
Cortes." 

"Nay,  beautiful  damsel,"  answered  the  knight,  "he  will  not 
yield  thee  unless  thou  art  bound  to  me  by  sacred  ties ;  the  bonds 


264  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

of  the  heart,  and  the  law  of  love,  he  will  not  heed.  Then  must 
thy  choice  be  made  to  share  with  Alvarado  his  home  and  heart, 
in  lawful  union  of  our  church,  or  be  the  leman  of  one  who  can- 
not love  thee.     Then  art  thou  willing  to  be  mine  ?" 

**  Thine  !"  exclaimed  Tecalco,  half  astonished  and  half  musing. 

**Ay,  mine  !"  repeated  Alvarado. 

*'  This  may  not  be,"  returned  the  princess,  **  I  am  pledged  to 
another;  I  am  bound  by  heart  and  word  to  Malmiztic." 

**Then  do  I  sorrow  for  thee  more  than  ever,"  said  the  politic 
Spaniard. 

''Why  so?"  inquired  Tecalco. 

**  I  fear,"  answered  Alvarado,  **you  are  too  weak  to  hear 
why." 

"  Hath  any  ill  befallen  him  ?"  gasped  the  maiden,  as  she  laid 
her  hand  upon  the  arm  of  Alvarado,  regardless  of  the  reins  of 
her  beast,  which  she  had  dropped. 

"Alas  !"  said  the  dissembling  Spaniard,  **  I  must  get  some 
other  person  to  tell  this  sad  story  to  you." 

**  Nay,  speak  on,"  said  Tecalco,  *'I  will  hear  it,  and  bear  all 
with  fortitude." 

**  Indeed,  I  cannot  so  wound  thee,  knowing  how  thou  hast  loved 
him,"  returned  Alvarado. 

"I  see  it,"  exclaimed  the  princess,  **he  is  captured — thou  hast 
made  him  a  prisoner.     Let  me  but  see  him,  and  I  ask  no  more." 

**  Sweet  lady,"  replied  the  other,  **  would  I  could  do  so,  but 
thou  shalt  hear  his  fate,  if  thou  wilt  be  calm." 

**I  will,"  briefly  returned  the  princess. 

**  Then  know  you,"  said  Alvarado,  **  that  when  Cortes  turned 
back  for  the  last  time  upon  the  fatal  causeway,  he  saw  the  figure 
of  a  broad-framed,  powerful  man,  and  dashing  up  to  him  upon 
his  steed,  he  beheld  the  dark-eyed  Toltec.  The  giant  was  weap- 
onless and  alone,  and  with  one  stroke  of  his  heavy  falchion,  Cortes 
cut  him  down,  and  the  mighty  Malmiztic  fell  upon  the  causeway 
a  corse !" 

At  these  words,  Alvarado  beheld  the  face  of  the  princess  over- 
spread with  pallor,  and  with  a  vacant  expression  in  her  eyes,  she 
sank  in  her  saddle  lifeless.  The  knight  instantly  supported  her, 
and  in  a  few  moments    Cortes,    with    a   handful   of  cavaliers, 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  265 

galloped  up  to  the  spot.  When  the  commander  inquired  the  cause 
of  this  sudden  faintness  ;  Alvarado  explained  it  as  the  effect  of 
anxiety  and  exhaustion. 

Cortes  ordered  a  litter  to  be  brought,  to  which  Tecalco  was 
transferred,  and  the  army  continued  their  march,  wearily  and 
sad,    along   the    beautiful   plains  which   lay  on    the    route    to 
Tlascala. 
******** 

On  the  morrow  of  Noche  Triste,  the  Aztecs  were  busily  em- 
ployed in  burying  their  dead,  and  the  priests  were  occupied  in 
conveying  the  prisoners  who  had  been  captured,  to  the  cells  and 
dungeons  beneath  the  great  tower. 

Scarce  were  the  fallen  Aztecs  entombed,  when  the  high  priest 
began  to  sacrifice  the  unfortunate  Tlascalans,  who  had  fallen  into 
his  hands,  and  the  Aztecs  seemed  to  forget  for  a  time  the  loss  of 
their  friends,  in  this  wild  triumph  over  their  foes ;  and  hour  after 
hour,  as  the  sacrifice  progressed,  the  unfortunate  captives  could 
hear  the  cries  of  their  companions,  as  one  after  another  was 
brought  to  the  altar-stone,  where  the  high  priest,  in  his  scarlet 
robes  and  his  black  clad  assistants,  offered  them  up  amid  peeans  of 
triumph,  to  the  honor  of  Mexitli.  In  vain  Cuitlahua  and  Guate- 
mozin  remonstrated  against  this  dreadful  slaughter,  but  the  whole 
mass  of  the  priesthood  came  out  by  thousands,  and  insisted  upon 
the  continuance  of  the  offering,  in  addition  to  which  the  populace 
poured  forth,  and  loudly  advocated  the  policy  of  the  priests.  The 
father  begged  for  vengeance  for  his  child,  the  wife  for  her  lord, 
the  sister  for  her  brother.  Loud  and  clamorous  were  the  cries 
for  retribution  upon  the  enemy — blood  called  for  blood. 

Thus  day  after  day  passed  away  with  the  same  sanguinary 
scenes  repeated.  During  this  period,  Malmiztic  had  wandered  off 
to  the  ruins  of  Tezcozinco,  and  secluded  himself  in  his  splendid 
but  solitary  palace,  hard  by,  upon  the  same  hill,  or  whiling  away 
the  hours  gloomily  i^  the  subterranean  recesses  of  his  hidden 
cavern.  Wherever  he  wandered,  his  faithful  dwarf  followed  him 
in  sympathetic  silence.  Once  he  had  attempted  to  soothe  the 
unspeakable  grief  of  the  Toltec,  by  playing  his  lute-hke  instru- 
ment, but  the  heart  of  Malmiztic  was  too  full  to  bear  the  gentle 
melody,  whose  soft  notes  recalled  the  memory  of  his  lost  Tecalco. 
23 


265  THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS. 

For  many  days  he  had  gone  to  the  bank  of  the  causeway,  and 
sought  for  the  spot  where  he  supposed  she  had  gone  down  in  the 
dark  waters  to  never  rise  again.  Still  would  he  gaze  for  hours 
upon  the  light  scarf  which  she  had  constantly  worn,  and  ever 
and  anon,  as  some  trifle  which  she  had  admired,  or  touched, 
would  present  itself  to  his  view,  it  would  be  linked  in  his  mind 
with  her  lovely  countenance  ;  and  as  he  strolled  moodily  and 
heavy  of  heart  among  the  moss-covered  wrecks  of  the  ancient  pal- 
aces upon  the  hill,  his  busy  fancy  could  hear  her  voice  whispering 
softly  in  his  ear,  and  he  would  start  up  as  if  the  figure  were  full 
before  his  eyes,  and  so  vividly  would  imagination  depict  her  form, 
that  Malmiztic  would  be  ready  to  speak  to  the  creature  of  his 
mind,  when  suddenly  the  apparition  would  depart,  and  the  silent 
tears  would  start  from  the  eyes  of  the  lone  and  desolate  mourner. 

Day  and  night  he  drooped — in  the  hours  of  sunshine  he  strayed 
through  the  leafy  darkness  of  the  thick  forest,  and  by  the  moon's 
pale  light  he  would  sit,  upon  some  old  and  broken  fragment  of 
the  ruined  temples  hard  by,  and  gaze  upon  the  midnight  moon,  or 
watch  the  long  white-winged  clouds  skimming  through  the  vault 
above,  and  fancying  they  were  angels  bearing  off  to  another 
sphere  the  beautiful  being  whose  loss  had  left  his  soul's  realm 
voiceless  and  vacant. 

In  vain  Malmiztic  unfolded  the  mighty  volumes  which  were 
stored  in  the  library  of  his  superb  palace,  but  a  blear  was  upon 
the  illuminated  pages  wherever  his  eye  fell,  and  as  a  blistering 
tear  would  drop  and  stain  the  leaf,  the  Toltec  would  turn  away 
and  wander  through  the  large  and  lonely  apartments  of  the  edi- 
fice, gazing  upon  the  magnificent  historical  paintings  which  deco- 
rated the  walls,  and  told  the  tales  of  ages  fled  forever.  But  all 
the  splendor  of  his  dwelling-places,  could  not  chase  the  shadow 
of  gloom  from  his  brow. 

At  length  he  sought  his  cavern,  with  the  dwarf  to  accompany 
htm,  and  closing  himself  from  the  world,  sought  seclusion  in 
prayer  for  days  together,  in  the  subterranean  citadel  whose 
black  marble  altar  stone  bore  the  mysterious  words  in  Toltec 
characters,  in  gold,  "The  Temple  of  the  Invisible  God — the 
Cause  of  Causes." 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 


O  T  O  M  B  A  . 

*'  Oh  I  "what  it  "was  to  see  this  tremendous  battle !  how  we  closed  foot  to 
foot !  and  with  what  fury  the  dogs  fought  us!" — Bernal  Diaz. 

Day  after  day,  Cortes  continued  his  march  on  towards  Tlas- 
cala,  and  all  along  the  route  he  was  harassed  by  small  squads 
of  the  enemy,  who  would  sally  forth,  and  after  assailing  his  worn 
soldiers  and  dispirited  confederates,  would  disappear  to  renew  the 
skirmish  on  the  morrow. 

At  length,  as  they  were  proceeding  on  one  morning,  while  it  was 
comparatively  cool,  under  the  friendly  shelter  of  scattered  groves, 
and  dragging  themselves  forward,  rather  than  marching  (fol*  a 
general  exhaustion  and  languor  had  overcome  them,  from  the 
constant  annoyance  of  handsful  of  the  enemy),  they  descried,  to 
their  utter  amazement,  on  the  distant  plains  of  Otomba,  full  be- 
fore them,  an  immense  army  stretched  out  and  advancing  upon 
them.  They  were  overwhelmed  and  ready  to  sink  in  the  earth 
at  the  fearful  spectacle. 

The  day  was  bright  and  beautiful ;  the  gently-undulating 
plain  which  stretched  out  to  the  limit  of  sight,  was  a  rich,  green 
sea  of  velvet  grass,  with  islands  of  flowers,  whose  rainbow  tints 
gleamed  in  the  golden  sunshine.  "  Along  the  horizon,  like  the  up- 
rising of  a  line  of  clouds  came  the  dark  myriads  of  Mexico  and 
their  allies,  commanded  by  the  highest  noble  of  the  neighboring 
province,  whose  name  was  Chihuaca.  The  whole  mass  of  war- 
riors, for  leagues  upon  leagues,  and  province  upon  province,  had 
been  collected,  and  were  now  hastening  on  to  annihilate  the 
weakened  Spaniards  and  their  languid  allies. 

The  threatening  multitude  still  approached,  apparently  rising 
from  the  earth,  like  locusts,  and  as  far  as  the  eye  of  Cortes  could 

(267) 


268  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

stretch,  he  beheld  along  the  plain  the  black  lines  becoming  visi- 
ble, swelling  in  volume  with  every  movement. 

Right  and  left  they  came,  thickening  as  they  advanced  ;  like 
the  outpouring  of  a  vast  hive  of  bees,  their  hum  could  be  faintly 
heard  in  the  distance,  but  as  they  neared  the  cavaliers  and  their 
companions,  their  angry  roar  became  more  distinct,  and  the  fierce 
sound  of  the  wild  war  instruments  was  borne  up  to  their  ears  by 
the  breath  of  the  soft  breeze  ;  loud  and  more  loud,  the  dreadful 
noises  came,  and  nearer  sounded  the  chaotic  hum  of  voices,  as  the 
dark  masses  rolled  up  into  view  over  the  swelling  plain;  the  bright 
sun  flashed  upon  a  thousand  ensigns  and  banners,  whose  purple, 
gold,  and  burnished  faces  changed,  with  every  movement,  to 
azure,  crimson,  and  green.  Pennons  and  feathers  fluttered  in 
the  breeze,  and  the  glittering  heads  of  copper-tipped  lances  and 
spears  bristled  thick  as  the  barbs  in  a  golden  field  of  grain. 

Cortes  gazed  upon  this  splendid  but  terrible  pageant,  and  then 
turned  to  behold  his  own  troops  and  allies.  Misery  and  hunger 
had  thinned  their  faces,  and  dimmed  their  eyes  ;  many  were  pale 
from  wounds,  and  the  whole  band  appeared  to  be  in  a  sick  and 
starving  condition,  and  almost  ready  to  lie  down  and  die,  for 
their  scanty  provision  was  well  nigh  exhausted. 

Cortes  commanded  the  wounded  to  be  taken  off  the  horses 
upon  which  they  had  been  borne,  and  placed  on  crutches,  and 
mounting  a  green,  grass-covered  knoll,  he  surveyed  the  haggard 
band  again  ;  but  with  a  calm,  clear  countenance,  wherein  death- 
less determination  sat  in  settled  majesty,  he  addressed  the  multi- 
tude, with  thrilling  power,  and  pointed  to  the  coming  host  who 
darkened  the  plain.  He  depicted  the  utter  hopelessness  of 
escape — the  terrors  of  torture  succeeding  surrender.  He  called 
upon  them  to  make  this  last  effort  for  the  sake  of  the  republic  of 
Tlascala,  and  the  honor  of  old  Spain ; — for  the  sake  of  victory,  or 
a  death  on  the  green  plains  of  Otomba.  He  spoke  with  great 
animation,  and  the  effect  upon  the  troops  was  wonderful,  as  he 
exclaimed  at  the  conclusion  of  the  address : 

"We  must  conquer,  or  die!  He  who  has  shielded  us  before 
will  save  us  now  !  Santiago  !  Santiago !  and  God  be  with  us  !'* 
and  with  these  words,  the  stiff  and  wounded  veterans  grasped 
firmly  their  spears,  and  the  bowmen  twanged  their  strings,  while 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  269 

the  brown,  weatlier-worn  faces  caught  a  sad  but  resolute  gleam 
of  animation,  and  the  hard-handed  cavalry,  unhung  their  battle- 
axes  from  their  saddle-bows,  and  wheeling  round  their  rusted 
blades,  brown  in  the  sun,  they  echoed  the  old  cry  of  Castile, 
**  Santiago !  Santiago  !  and  God  be  with  us  !"  and  away  they 
dashed  against  the  countless  coming  hosts,  while  behind  them, 
the  wearied  and  almost  naked  Tlascalans  caught  a  new  life  and 
spirit  from  their  leaders,  who  clashed  with  the  advance  guard  of 
the  mighty  Aztec  host,  and  scattered  them  with  a  terrific  shock. 

The  battle  was  general  almost  instantly,  in  every  part  of  the 
green,  sunny  plain  ;  strife  and  contention  were  rife,  and  the 
many-colored  standards  were  mingled  in  strange  confusion,  while 
the  uproar  of  cries,  where  every  province  gave  its  war-cry,  filled 
the  welkin  with  the  wildest  sounds. 

Famished  and  exhausted  as  the  Tlascalans  were,  they  yet 
rushed  to  the  comflict  with  an  unfaltering  courage,  and  the  pale 
faces  of  the  overwrought  Christians  could  be  seen,  here  and 
there  upon  the  field  of  fight,  battling  like  a  band  of  spectres,  and 
painting  the  green  grass  with  blood. 

On  they  dashed  amid  the  brown  swarms  of  the  foe,  and  hur- 
ried them  away  as  the  autumnal  gust  whirls  the  red  leaves  of  the 
forest ;  but  again  the  enemy  would  eddy  back  in  a  triple  volume, 
and  press  furiously  upon  the  Christian  lines,  and  overthrow  the 
faithful  Tlascalans  who  followed  them. 

The  combat  was  hand  to  hand,  and  although  the  corses  of 
hundreds  of  Aztecs  blackened  the  earth,  nothing  seemed  missing 
from  the  multitude.  Cortes  would  break  through  the  lines,  and 
instantly  the  gap  would  close  up  again.  At  length,  seeing  the 
impossibility  of  making  an  impression  upon  the  Mexican  myriads, 
Cortes  galloped  back  and  brought  the  artillery  into  action,  clear- 
ing the  crowd  before  him  until  he  came  full  in  front  of  the  legions 
of  the  enemy.  Here  his  few  field-pieces,  though  small,  playing 
upon  the  dense  mass  of  Mexicans,  swept  down  countless  num- 
bers, and  threw  the  main  body  into  the  wildest  disorder.  Right  on 
went  the  cannon,  and  the  enemy  fled  before  it,  while  the  Tlasca- 
lan  allies  stoutly  engaged  the  Aztecs  in  every  quarter  of  the  field, 
but  often  fell  back  from  the  crushing  power  of  the  multitudinous 
enemy,  who  would  suddenly  wheel  in  their  retreat  and  encounter 


270  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

the  Christians  and  their  confederates  with  a  terrible  fierceness, 
often  forcing  them  to  recoil  from  the  violence  of  the  shock  and 
seek  shelter  in  the  rear  of  the  great  guns,  whose  red  blaze  flashed 
in  the  yellow  sunlight,  and  whose  curling  clouds  of  smoke  rolled 
up  towards  the  blue  heavens. 

Now  the  myriads  of  Mexicans  came  charging  madly  on,  and 
their  impetuosity  knew  no  restraint ;  confident  from  numbers,  and 
maddened  by  memory  of  former  defeats,  they  rushed  desperately 
on,  and  all  the  combined  power  of  the  Christians  and  their  allies, 
scattered  as  they  were  in  all  parts  of  the  field,  was  wholly  una- 
ble to  arrest  them.  The  wild  rage  of  the  Aztecs  carried  the 
Tlascalans  before  them  like  a  mountain  torrent ;  the  crowd  was 
countless  and  their  fierceness  terrible ;  they  rushed  upon  the 
weak  and  famished  Tlascalans,  in  spite  of  the  sturdy  efforts  of 
the  cavaliers  to  protect  them,  and  even  in  defiance  of  the  cannon, 
which  wrought  among  their  ranks  tremendous  slaughter. 

In  vain  the  captains  of  the  Christian  bands  would  rally  the 
allies  ;  an  overpowering  host  would  burst  upon  them  with  spears, 
maquahuitls,  arrows,  darts,  and  slings,  and  crowding  on  thick 
,over  the  plain,  came  fresh  foes  with  every  moment,  yelling  like 
furies,  and  brandishing  their  weapons  in  the  golden  sunlight.  Still 
the  power  and  number  of  the  Aztecs  was  irresistible,  and  in  every 
quarter  of  the  battle  confusion  seized  upon  the  valiant  but  disor- 
dered Tlascalans,  while  the  infuriate  enemy,  hot  upon  their  heels, 
made  fell  work  with  the  weak  and  weary  host.  Yells  of  triumph  rose 
from  the  Aztec  host  and  rang  upon  the  air  ;  the  hoarse  sound  of  the 
conch  shells,  and  the  wild  voices  of  their  leaders,  were  death  notes 
to  the  poor  Tlascalans,  as  the  foe  came  rushing  on  like  a  roaring 
tide,  sweeping  everything  before  its  dark  wave.  An  entangled 
forest  of  spears  and  banners  moved  everywhere  thick  in  the  bat- 
tle, and  far  to  the  right,  amid  a  crowd  of  splendidly-attired  no- 
bihty,  upon  an  elevated  point  of  the  plain,  the  commanding  chief 
Chihuaca,  was  stationed  in  a  gorgeous  litter,  hung  with  cloth  of 
gold,  and  borne  upon  the  shoulders  of  his  officers.  This  brilliant 
equipage,  which  glittered  with  rainbow  colors,  from  feather  work 
and  gems,  caught  the  eye  of  Cortes,  who  instantly  determined 
that  the  leader  of  the  battle  occupied  the  gaudy  litter. 

"Now,  Sandoval,"  said  Cortes,  rising  in  his  stirrups,  **  the 


THK    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  t71 

holy  Virgin  must  be  with  us;  or  our  hopes  and  hves  are  lost  upon 
this  field  ;  "we  are  routed,  scattered  and  defeated  in  every  point, 
and  our  allies  are  cut  to  pieces.  Follow  me,  for  this  stroke  must 
fix  our  fate.     Santiago,  be  with  us  !" 

And  with  these  words  the  dauntless  Cortes  darted  across  the 
field  on  his  powerful  steed,  with  his  lance  in  the  rest,  and  his 
sword  in  his  hand,  cutting  right  and  left,  as  he  flew  far  over  the 
plain,  followed  by  Sandoval,  who  could  scarce  keep  pace  with  the 
fiery  courser  of  Cortes.  Away  they  sped,  cleaving  their  course 
through  the  throng,  far  over  the  green  hillocks,  towards  the  emi- 
nence from  which  Chihuaca  was  cheering  on  his  victorfous  troops 
who  were  in  pursuit  of  the  flying  Tlascalans.  Cortes,  still  leav- 
ing Sandoval  farther  behind,  dashed  forward  at  a  terrific  speed, 
and,  like  the  descending  sweep  of  a  hungry  condor,  he  burst 
amid  the  band  of  noble  guards  around  Chihuaca,  and  in  an  in- 
stant their  lances  and  javelins  covered  Cortes  like  a  cloud,  but 
the  Spaniard  was  proof  to  their  arms,  for  his  well -formed  figure 
was  clad  in  stout  armor  of  steel,  from  which  the  weapons  glanced 
ineffectually  aside.  But  Cortes  spurred  madly  on  towards  the 
litter,  and  upon  either  hand  he  struck  down  all  who  attempted  to 
stay  his  course  ;  plunging  headlong  into  the  midst  of  the  foe,  he 
raised  his  lance  to  a  level,  and  with  an  impetuous  rush  he  drove 
his  gleaming  steel  point  full  into  the  body  of  the  unfortunate 
Chihuaca,  as  he  sat  in  his  gorgeous  palanquin,  and  the  force  of 
the  stroke  hurled  the  chieftain  out  upon  the  earth,  a  bleeding  and 
lifeless  form,  while  Cortes  wheeled  his  steed  about  swiftly,  and 
began  cutting  his  way  back  through  the  throng  who  were  about 
to  overwhelm  Sandoval,  when  the  sight  of  their  chieftain  dashed 
to  the  earth  filled  them  with  consternation,  and  they  fled,  leaving 
an  opening  for  the  cavaliers  to  regain  the  company  of  their  com- 
panions, who  came  on  sweeping  the  whole  army  of  foes  before 
them  with  frightful  havoc.  The  panic  was  wonderful;  rank 
rushed  confused  upon  rank,  and  one  fugitive  stumbled  over  an- 
other, while  the  Tlascalans,  aroused  to  a  new  sense  of  vengeance, 
virtually  mowed  them  down,  and  cut  them  to  pieces  as  they  fled, 
while  Cortes,  with  his  artillery,  came  up,  and  opening  a  fiery 
sheet  of  death  upon  the  crowded  mass,  strewed  the  whole  earth 
with  wrecks  of  human  life;  and  still  the  fierce  thunder-guns 


272  THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS. 

poured  forth  their  murderous  and  destructive  lightnings  amid 
the  black  smoke  whose  wreaths  rolled  over  the  emerald  plains  of 
0  tomb  a. 

Far  and  wide  fled  the  routed  and  aflfrighted  Aztecs  and  their 
associates.  For  four  dreadful  hours  had  this  tornado  raged  upon 
the  plain,  and  of  the  two  hundred  thousand  gorgeously-equipped 
warriors  who  came  forth  brilliant  as  the  sun  in  the  morning, 
twenty  thousand  were  now  so  many  vacant  tenements  of  clay, 
from  which  the  frightened  souls  had  fled  and  left  them  as  homes 
for  the  ogre  spirit  of  decay. 

The  day  was  won — but  oh  !  what  a  fearful  victory  !  amid  the 
ghastly  hosts  which  strewed  the  plain,  and  made  its  emerald  face 
blush,  were  nearly  half  the  faithful  Tlascalang,  who  had  followed 
the  course  of  the  conqueror  from  his  entry  into  the  city  of  Tlas- 
cala,  and  the  few  who  were  now  left  were  all  wounded,  as  well 
as  their  Christian  companions. 

Scarcely  had  Cortes  got  them  prepared,  after  the  shock  of  the 
battle,  to  start,  when  the  chief  lords  and  people  of  Tlascala  came 
down  to  them,  and  condoled  with  their  fellow-countrymen  upon 
their  misfortunes,  affording  the  exhausted  army  much  assistance 
and  relief,  and  comforting  them  as  much  as  possible  for  the  loss 
of  their  companions,  and  their  own  wounded  and  famished 
condition. 

With  this  succor,  Cortes  and  his  remnant  of  an  army,  like  a 
wounded  snake,  dragged  slowly  in  Tlascala. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 


CuiTLAHUA  was  HOW  busily  occupied  in  the  city  of  Mexico, 
repairing  the  work  of  destruction  which  Cortes  had  wrought 
upon  the  splendid  metropoUs.  Throughout  the  place  vast  num- 
bers of  workmen  were  employed  upon  fortifications,  fortresses, 
intrenchments,  fosses,  walls,  ditches,  and  all  preparation  neces- 
sary to  withstand  a  siege.  In  addition  to  this,  the  wise  and  effi- 
cient king  dispatched  orders  throughout  the  empire,  proclaiming 
an  acquittance  of  tribute  to  all  persons  in  the  realm  who  should 
prosecute  war  upon  the  Christians. 

Scarce  three  or  four  months  had  passed  since  Cuitlahua  had 
mounted  the  throne  of  the  Aztec  empire,  with  his  beautiful  bride 
Tecuiclipo  ;  but  in  that  time  his  resolute  and  masterly  mind  had 
wrought  a  great  change  in  the  affairs  of  government,  and  the 
people  were  once  more  beginning  to  rouse  to  a  sense  of  their 
own  power  and  importance. 

One  morning,  while  the  sun  had  just  kissed  the  distant  peaks 
of  Popocatepetl  and  Iztaccihuatl,  the  high  priest  stood  upon 
the  top  of  the  temple  ready  to  sacrifice  a  sick  Spanish  prisoner. 
Close  at  hand  stood  Malmiztic  and  Guatemozin,  remonstrating 
against  the  act ;  the  latter  exclaimed,  in  a  fiery  tone  : 

**  It  is  wrong  to  kill  this  captive  thus ;  health  hath  deserted 
the  body  of  the  creature,  and  it  is  but  offering  carrion  to  the 
gods." 

**Hold,"  replied  the  high-priest,  "this  is  my  office  ;  thy  voice 
must  be  silent.  Thou  art  a  valiant  soldier,  and  hast  done  the 
government  much  good,  otherwise  I  should  have  an  atonement 
from  thee  for  thy  sacrilege.'* 

**  Talk  not  to  me  of  atonements,"  said  Guatemozin,  rapidly,  as 
the  bright  flush  glowed  upon  his  beautiful  and  manly  countenance, 
**  I  recognize  no  law  of  sacrifice,  as  high  as  the  soldier's  honor, 

C273) 


274  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC ;    AND 

to  the  sick  captive.  I  have  opposed  these  foul  rites  at  all  times, 
/ind  only  acquiesced  to  silence  the  populace  in  their  clamors ; 
but  nothing  demands  the  life  of  this  afflicted  soldier — he  hath 
only  wronged  us  in  following  his  master,  and  the  all-wise  One 
hath  visited  this  punishment  upon  him  therefor." 

"  I  am  assured,  now,  that  that  which  I  have  heard  is  true  ;  thou 
hast  listened  to  the  teachings  of  yon  dark  magician,  the  last  of 
the  Toltec  race — they  whom  the  gods,  in  their  just  wrath,  have  de- 
stroyed, and  left  their  gorgeous  temples  as  hiding-places  for  the 
owl  and  blind  bat.  Turn  swiftly  away  from  him,  or  he  will  lead 
thee  to  the  path  of  the  dead  by  his  deceitful  doctrines." 

"  Priest,"  said  Guatemozin,  ''what  my  faith  maybe  matters 
not ;  it  is  no  affair  of  yours  ;  I  only  ask  .that  you  will  forego  to 
make  a  sacrifice  of  one  already  afflicted  with  some  strange 
malady." 

" I  will  not  hear  thee,"  replied  the  priest  sternly  ;  "go  hence, 
before  I  set  set  a  curse  upon  thee  !" 

**  Curse,  if  thou  likest,"  said  Guatemozin,  "  I  will  bear  all  that 
may  befall  a  man  who  simply  prays  to  have  a  common  mercy 
shown." 

**  Away,"  said  the  priest,  as  he  pushed  aside  Guatemozin  with 
one  hand,  and  drew  his  huge  knife  of  itzli  with  the  other,  as  he 
advanced  towards  the  victim  who  lay  naked  upon  the  sacrificial 
stone. 

**  What !  dost  thou  hurl  me  aside  thus,  thou  red-robed  demon  !" 
said  the  excited  prince  ;  "lay  thy  hands  upon  my  person  again, 
and  I  will  hang  thy  head  by  its  gory  locks  outside  of  this  tem- 
ple's wall !" 

**  Gracious  sovereign,"  said  the  priest,  to  Cuitlahua,  who  had 
just  entered  the  temple,  "  command  this  mad  youth,  and  yon 
dark  sorcerer,  who  hath  led  him  astray,  to  depart ;  nay,  command 
the  sorcerer  to  be  made  a  sacrifice  to  atone  for  the  sacrilege  this 
day  committed  before  the  altar." 

"  Nay,"  said  the  king,"  this  difference  must  not  exist ;  Guate- 
mozin must  depart,  but  it  needs  not  that  the  wise  Malmiztic 
should  suflfer  death." 

"But,"  cried  the  priest,  "what  shall  be  done?  how  shall  a 
sacrifice  be  made?" 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  ^75 

** Needs  there  an  offering?"  questioned  Cuitlahua. 

*'Ay,"  answered  the  hypocritical  destroyer,  "or  thou  shalt  see 
a  blight  upon  the  land — a  deadly  retribution  for  neglect  of  our 
gods,  and  hearkening  to  the  falsehoods  of  strange  divinities." 

"  Then  if  we  must  answer  with  life,  take  the  prisoner,"  said 
Cuitlahua. 

The  fierce  countenance  of  the  priest  gleamed  with  a  fiendish 
smile,  and  with  his  blade  of  itzli,  like  the  broad  knife  of  a 
butcher,  he  advanced  towards  the  captive.  The  Spaniard  lifted 
his  head  slightly  off  the  stone  of  sacrifice,  and  turning  his  head 
full  upon  Cuitlahua,  he  exclaimed  : 

"  The  blackest  curse  of  the  Christian's  God  wither  and  blast 
you  !  May  fiends  follow  thee  forever,  and  the  angel  of  mercy 
turn  from  thee,  Cuitlahua,  when  thou  callest  upon  her !" 

*'  Cease  !"  said  the  priest',  as  he  seized  the  victim,  and  hfted 
aloft  the  dreadful  knife. 

"  Idolater,  beware  !"  said  Malmiztic,  to  the  priest;  but  ere  the 
words  were  fully  spoken,  the  deadly  weapon  pierced  the  Chris- 
tian's heart ! 

*'The  gods  are  satisfied,"  said  the  priest,  "and  now  their 
blessing  upon  thee,  Cuitlahua,  for  thy  devotion  to  our  ancient  rites." 

And  so  saying,  the  arch  idolater  laid  his  bloody  hands  in  bene- 
diction upon  the  head  of  the  Aztec  monarch,  who  departed,  with 
Guatemozin  and  Malmiztic  from  the  temple. 

Upon  the  morrow  a  strange  and  terrible  disease  had  fallen 
upon  the  high  priest ;  his  form  became  a  loathsome  mass  of  mor- 
tality, and  death  soon  completed  the  scene.  Scarce  had  the 
priest  been  buried,  when  the  same  fatal  scourge  which  came  with 
the  priest's  blessing,  broke  out  upon  the  king,  and  Cuitlahua  sick- 
ened and  was  soon  spotted  by  the  awful  pestilence.  It  was  the 
European's  last  curse  —  the  dying  Spaniard's  anathema — the 
Small  Pox. 

In  a  brief  space  of  time,  the  king  was  a  coi-pse,  and  the  dread 
disease  was  scourging  the  whole  city — the  agent  of  death,  hith- 
erto unknown  upon  the  American  continent,  wrought  fearfully  in 
the  midst  of  the  metropolis  for  many  days. 

In  the  meantime,  the  obsequies  of  Cuitlahua  had  been  per- 
formed, and  the  coronation  of  Guatemozin  celebrated. 


276  MALMIZTIC,    THE   TOLTEC  ;    AND 

Malmiztic,  bereft  of  Tecalco,  now  came,  even  in  the  midst  of 
his  own  sorrow,  and  softened  the  sadness  of  the  widowed  Tecui- 
clipo,  who  lamented  with  a  deep  grief  the  loss  of  her  brave  and 
noble  lord.  And  still  the  Toltec  strayed  day  after  day  to  the  lake 
to  mark  the  spot  where  he  missed  the  sweet  star  who  had  lighted 
his  pathway  on  earth.  But  the  opening  hours  of  time  presented 
no  glance  of  her  lovely  but  lost  face,  and  gloom,  like  a  shadow, 
followed  the  footsteps  of  the  Toltec. 

But  the  fair  cause  of  his  grief  was  now  with  the  Christians,  in 
the  city  of  Tlascala,  where  Cortes  and  his  wreck  of  an  army 
were  hospitably  and  even  triumphantly  received  by  Maxicatzin, 
the  ancient  governor;  but  in  the  senate  the  young  and  fiery 
Xicotencatl  opposed  the  Spaniards,  insomuch  that  the  reverend 
Maxicatzin  became  so  much  irritated  at  his  harsh  and  bitter  lan- 
guage, that  he  rose  from  his  seat  and  threw  the  young  warrior 
out  of  the  senate  house  with  violence.  Quiet  was  then  restored, 
and  the  troops  rested  and  recruited  themselves  in  the  city,  and 
received  the  kindest  treatment  from  the  citizens  of  Tlascala,  who 
sympathised  with  their  sufferings  and  used  every  exertion  to 
ameliorate  their  condition. 

During  this  period  of  peace.  Father  Olmedo  prepared  a  great 
jubilee,  with  all  the  most  imposing  rites  and  ceremonies  of  the 
church,  and  so  powerful  was  his  preaching  and  the  solemnities  of 
the  service,  that  hundreds  of  Tlascalans  became  converts,  and 
four  of  the  most  distinguished  chiefs  renounced  the  follies  of  their 
forefathers  and  took  up  the  Cross  of  Christ,  to  the  infinite  delight 
of  the  Spaniards,  who  glorified  God  and  the  Virgin  for  this 
gleam  of  heavenly  light  shot  into  the  realm  of  darkness  and 
paganism. 

At  this  grand  festival,  Cortes  and  Alvarado,  who  watched  each 
other  with  a  jealous  eye,  both  attempted  to  persuade  Tecalco  to 
embrace  the  holy  Catholic  faith,  but  the  doctrines  which  the  Tol- 
tec had  taught  her  were  stamped  upon  her  heart,  and  she  clung 
to  them  with  the  faith  of  a  martyr,  while  Father  Olmedo  mar- 
veled at  her  constancy,  and  was  amazed  with  what  seemed  to 
him  the  wild  chimeras  of  an  incomprehensible  and  startling  the- 
ology of  a  strange  ideal  God,  endless  angel  worlds,  and  infinite 
progression. 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  277 

As  tlie  lio^litninsf-smitten  oak  sometimes  sends  forth  new  shoots 
from  the  kiss  of  the  sunshine,  so  did  the  comforts  and  quietude 
of  Tlascala  warm  into  hfe  new  hopes  in  the  heart  of  Cortes. — 
Day  after  day,  for  weeks,  did  the  dream  grow  upon  him,  until 
the  re-animated  eagle  eye  of  ambition  glittered  as  it  gazed  upon 
the  gorgeous  visions  of  the  future. 

The  imperishable  spirit  of  hope  pointed  back  to  Mexico,  and 
energy  spoke  aloud  in  the  bosom  of  the  Spaniard,  **  Never  falter, 
for  success  is  thine."  Cortes  heard  these  words  of  his  own 
spirit,  and  forthwith  his  mind  bent  itself  upon  the  one  thought  of 
conquest,  and  he  compassed  the  vast  scheme  of  cutting  off,  one 
by  one,  the  thousand  tributaries  which  surrounded  the  metropo- 
lis, and  lent  power  and  means  from  their  various  provinces  to 
withstand  all  assaults  and  sieges  which  might  be  directed  against 
the  city.  But  when  Cortes  broached  this  idea  to  his  followers,  a 
large  portion  of  them  strongly  dissented,  and  urged  that  he 
should  return  to  Cuba.  To  this  many  seemed  willing,  for  they 
were  weary  of  a  constant  warfare  where  nothing  had  been 
gained,  and  so  many  were  afflicted  and  wounded.  Cortes  felt 
his  inability  to  control  this  disposition  to  depart ;  he,  therefore, 
stated  his  fixed  determination  to  remain,  and  commanded  all 
those  who  were  unwilling  to  share  his  fortune,  to  step  out  of  the 
ranks.  To  his  surprise  and  mortification  most  of  the  soldiers  of 
Narvaez,  who  had  joined  him,  stepped  forward,  and  they  were 
followed  by  a  few  of  his  own  veterans.  Seeing  their  settled  pur- 
pose, Cortes  permitted  them  to  depart,  and  at  the  same  time  dis- 
patched with  them  some  of  his  faithful  friends  to  Hispaniola  for 
horses,  men,  artillery,  and  arms,  with  which  he  was  once  again 
to  undertake  the  overthrow  of  the  occidental  Venice. 

These  disaffected  troops  having  departed,  the  general  began  a 
review  of  his  men  and  allies,  the  Tlascalans,  and  kept  up  a  strict 
military  discipline,  insomuch  that  upon  one  occasion  a  Moor  of 
his  party,  having  stolen  some  turkeys  from  the  Tlascalans,  was 
detected,  tried,  found  guilty,  and  hung  !  This  severe  and  sum- 
mary mode  of  proceeding  gave  the  Tlascalans  a  vivid  picture  of 
the  stern  discipline  of  the  conqueror,  and  left  an  impression  not 
easily  eradicated  from  their  minds. 

But  even  with  all  the  allies  who  could  now  be  mustered,  Cortes 


278  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC ;    AND 

felt  that  his  force  would  be  feeble  and  disproportionate  to  his  de- 
signs ;  but  while  revolving  in  his  mind  how  he  .should  proceed, 
news  came  that  Spanish  troops  had  arrived  upon  the  coast,  and 
were  now  making  their  way  with  all  dispatch  to  join  the  daring 
adventurer,  Cortes,  whose  fame  had  reached  their  ears,  and 
under  whose  command  they  were  willing  to  scale  the  towers  of 
the  infidel  and  gather  the  pagan  gold. 

This  fresh  support  cheered  and  animated  many  who  were 
desponding  in  their  solitude,  and  their  joy  was  further  increased 
when,  in  the  course  of  a  few  days,  another  band  came  up  from 
the  coast  and  joined  them  in  Tlascala,  and  shortly  afterwards 
their  own  companions  arrived  from  Hispaniola,  bringing  a  fresh 
supply  of  horses,  men,  artillery,  and  arms. 

In  a  brief  space  of  time,  Cortes,  by  continued  reviews,  had 
formed  a  well-drilled  and  powerful  army. 

In  order  to  carry  his  great  scheme  into  effect,  Cortes  had  the 
construction  of  thirteen  brigs,  of  different  sizes,  undertaken  by 
an  experienced  ship-builder,  named  Martin  Lopez,  aided  by  three 
or  four  Spanish  carpenters  and  a  large  body  of  the  ingenious 
natives,  who  soon  acquired  much  skill  in  the  art ;  and  with  this 
assistance  Lopez  went  actively  to  work  near  Tlascala,  making  a 
navy  yard  in  the  midst  of  the  mountains  of  Mexico  ! 

Everything  being  prepared,  Cortes  assembled  his  men  and 
allies  to  sweep  the  entire  region  round,  and  accordingly  set  forth 
from  Tlascala,  and  pursued  a  route  which  lay  through  the  out- 
side circuit  of  the  Aztec  territory. 

Just  previous  to  setting  out  on  this  expedition,  Tecalco  noticed 
one  evening,  towards  nightfall,  the  fine  figure  of  a  tall  Tlascalan 
strolling  near  the  Christian  quarters ;  as  he  approached,  his  fine 
intelligent  eyes  were  bent  upon  her  with  an  earnest  interest,  and 
he  whispered  with  a  gentle  voice  : 

"  Maiden,  is  not  thy  name  Tecalco  ?  and  art  thou  not  a  daugh- 
ter of  Montezuma  ?  Fear  not  to  answer  me  ;  I  have  learned  that 
thou  art  an  unwilling  captive  to  the  Christian,  is  this  so  ?" 

"Noble  stranger,"  answered  the  princess,  "there  seems  a 
beam  of  sympathy  in  thine  eye,  and  a  look  that  I  may  trust,  but 
ere  I  bare  the  tale  *of  my  fate  to  thee,  instruct  me  who  thou 
art," 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  279 

**I/*  answered  the  Tlascalan,  "was  once  an  enemy  of  thy  father, 
and  of  thy  people,  but  now  my  anger  is  turned  against  our  com- 
mon enemy,  these  cruel -hearted  Christians." 

"But  thy  name?"  asked  the  maiden. 

*' Fair  lady,"  answered  the  other,  "it  was  once  Xicotencatl,  but 
now  I  am  none  other  than  a  dispirited  wanderer  of  Tlascala." 

"Xicotencatl!"  exclaimed  the  princess,  "Xicotencatl!  the 
brave,  the  fiery,  the  proud-hearted  hero  of  a  hundred  battles  ; — 
oh !  generous  and  gallant  soldier,  how  my  heart  throbs  to  behold 
thee  !  Thou  canst  save  me — thou  wilt.  It  never  yet  was  known 
that  the  daring  in  fight  should  be  deaf  to  the  weak." 

"  Beautiful  Tecalco  !"  replied  the  Tlascalan,  "  by  the  honor  of 
a  warrior  I  pledge  thee,  if  Xocotencatl's  hand,  heart,  or  head  can 
aid  thee,  thou  hast  but  to  command  and  he  will  execute." 

"Enough,"  said  the  princess,  "I  perceive  we  are  watched — at 
midnight  thou  shalt  hear  from  me."  With  these  words  she 
parted  from  the  Tlascalan  prince.  True  to  her  word,  at  the  mid- 
night hour,  a  servant  came  to  the  palace  of  the  prince,  and  placed 
in  his  hands  a  package  of  aloe  leaves,  upon  which  were  much 
writing  and  figures  in  cypher. 

"  It  shall  reach  Guatemozin,"  said  Xicotencatl,  and  the  mes- 
senger departed  without  replying. 

The  eye  of  the  dawn  had  not  opened,  when  a  trusty  carrier  of 
the  prince,  with  the  packet  in  his  possession,  was  far  on  his  route 
towards  the  capital,  hastening  with  an  arrowy  speed  over  plain 
and  vale,  with  his  master's  message  ;  and  before  the  second  night- 
fall, the  faithful  messenger  demanded  audience  at  the  door  of  the 
emperor  Guatemozin's  palace.  He  called  for  the  lord  in  person, 
and  he  came.  The  bearer  delivered  his  dispatches,  and  the  em- 
peror bade  his  officers  see  the  Tlascalan  well  bestowed.  Guate- 
mozin went  into  the  chamber  where  his,  now  wife,  the  lovely  and 
majestic  Tecuiclipo  sat.  He  unfolded  the  paper-like  leaves,  and 
scarce  had  his  eye  rested  upon  the  characters,  when  a  glow  of 
rapturous  delight  ran  over  his  face,  and  sparkled  with  a  speaking 
beauty  in  his  eyes. 

"What,"  cried  Tecuiclipo,  "  have  the  Tlascalans  turned  against 
their  pale-faced  leaders  ?" 


280  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEO ;    AND 

"Nay,"  returned  Guatemozin,  "but  the  lost  jewel  of  our  race 
is  found !  the  dead  is  restored  !  Tecalco  lives  !" 

**  Lives !"  eagerly  questioned  the  prince's  beautiful  wife, 
"where?" 

**  In  the  camp  of  Cortes,"  replied  Guatemozin,  "  and  prays 
for  succor  at  our  hands.  Shall  I  dispatch  a  messenger,  and  offer 
to  ransom  her  ?  I  would  hold  the  treasures  of  the  crown  light, 
compared  with  her  liberty ;  nay,  I  would  drain  the  coffers  of  ^he 
empire  to  redeem  her,  or  sell  a  province  for  her  safety.  Or  shall 
I  raise  an  arnay,  and  follow  the  footsteps  of  her  captors  ?" 

"Nay,"  replied  Tecuiclipo,  "leave  this  to  me.  I  see  Malmiz- 
tic  coming,  and  I  will  open  the  news  to  him." 

At  this  moment  the  Toltec  entered  the  chamber ;  his  large 
eyes  were  overcast  with  settled  sorrow,  and  the  proud  dignity 
of  his  bearing  seemed  broken,  as  he  approached  them  with  a 
slow-paced  step. 

Guatemozin  motioned  him  to  a  seat  upon  the  lounge  beside 
them.     The  Toltec  sat,  and  Tecuiclipo  began, 

"  How  fares  our  friend,  the  philosopher  ?" 

"May  it  please  you,  gracious  lady,"  returned  the  Toltec, 
**  malady  of  the  body  hath  not  befallen  me." 

"But,"  remarked  Tecuiclipo,  "I  mark  a  malady  of  the  mind 
hath  of  late  brooded  upon  thy  brow." 

"True,  royal  lady,"  answered  the  other,  "let  us  not  speak  of 
the  cause.  I  have  been  teaching  my  heart  the  lesson  of  forget- 
fulness.  I  have  said  to  my  soul,  "  close  thy  wearied  eyes,  and 
watch  no  longer  for  the  invisible." 

"  But  Malmiztic,  tell  me,"  said  the  empress,  "  are  spirits  never 
visible  upon  this  earth  ?" 

"  Gracious  lady,  thy  question  taxes  me  narrowly  to  answer," 
replied  the  Toltec,  "  I  have  seen  beings  ere  the  breath  hath 
parted  from  the  frame,  and  while  the  mind  hath  apparently  its 
reason,  on  sudden  start,  and  talk  with  the  vacant  air,  and  point  to 
unseen  spirits  ;  and  now,  albeit  that  I  have  rated  this  a  distemper 
of  the  blood,  and  a  raal-action  of  the  functions  of  the  brain, 
caused  by  physical  disquietude,  yet  I  am  far  from  denying  that 
the  incorporeal  inhabitants  of  other  worlds  may  move  in  this,  or 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  281 

that  the  spirit,  parted  from  its  habitation  of  clay,  may  not  revisit 
the  scenes  of  its  earthly  existence  ;  but  the  mortal  eye,  dimmed 
by  its  own  materiality,  may  not  scan  the  mysteries  of  nature. 
There  are  things  of  this  earth  which  I  have  failed  to  fathom,  even 
with  deepest  pondering.  I  have  met  spots  in  my  wanderings, 
where  my  feet  had  never  rested  before,  and  yet,  each  object  wore 
a  look  as  if  I  had  known  it  for  years.  I  have  met  men  in  my 
walk  of  life,  strangers  from  stranger  lands,  whose  countenances 
were  old  familiar  faces,  and  came  upon  me  like  the  friends  of 
gone-by  days.  I  have  sat  in  silence  by  men,  and  anticipated,  ere 
they  have  spoken,  the  words  which  they  were  about  to  utter, 
even  when  there  was  no  foregoing  link  of  thought  to  chain  itself 
to  my  presentiment.  And  in  sleep,  when  fancy  is  brightest,  and 
reason  partly,  and  sometimes  wholly  dormant,  I  have  had  dreams 
which  time  has  turned  into  truths ;  and,  in  a  word,  which  are  the 
fictions,  and  which  the  realities  of  mortal  being,  I  cannot  say." 

"But,  Malmiztic,"  said  Tecuiclip.o,  "if  thou  couldst  see  the 
spirit  of  Tecalco,  what  wouldst  thou  give  ?" 

"  To  see  Tecalco  V  said  the  Toltec. 

"Ay,"  replied  the  other,  "to  behold  her  form,  and  speak  with 
her  again." 

"Lady,"  answered  Malmiztic,  with  enthusiasm,  "for  a  single 
glimpse  upon  her  face,  even  for  an  instant,  I  would  give  my  for- 
tune, all  my  goods  of  earth,  and  toil  as  a  slave  for  the  remainder 
of  my  life,  made  contented  and  happy  by  that  one  look.  And 
could  I  but  speak  to  her,  I  would  give  a  year  of  existence  in  ex- 
change for  every  word !" 

"  Malmiztic,"  answered  the  empress,  "  I  will  test  thy  fidelity — 
Tecalco  lives !" 

The  Toltec  sprang  from  his  seat,  and  clasping  his  hands  to- 
gether, fell  upon  one  knee  before  Tecuiclipo. 

"Sovereign  lady,"  exclaimed  he,  "speak  those  words  again; 
but,  oh  !  royal  mistress,  do  not  make  me  the  victim  of  madden- 
ing delusion." 

" Rise,  Malmiztic,"  replied  the  empress,  "it  is  true ;  a  mes- 
senger has  arrived  from  the  Tlascalan,   Xicotencatl,  who  hath 
spoken  with  her  in  the  camp  of  Cortes.     Now,  canst  thou  find 
one  willing  to  rescue  her?" 
24 


282  THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS. 

**I  can,"  instantly  replied  the  Toltec. 

'"Where  V  said  Tecuiclipo. 

**Here!"  returned  the  other,  in  a  moment,  rising  to  his  feet, 
"here  is  one  who  will  follow  her  forever  !"  and  suddenly  turning 
to  Guatemozin,  he  continued :  "My  lord,  I  have  a  favor  to  ask 
of  you." 

"It  is  granted,"  replied  the  emperor,  "ere  thou  canst  express 
it,  be  it  what  it  may." 

"  I  would  have  one  of  those  strange  animals  which  we  cap- 
tured from  the  Christians  upon  the  causeway  in  that  gloomy  but 
glorious  night." 

"A  horse  !"  exclaimed  Guatemozin. 

"Ay,  may  it  please  you,  my  sovereign,"  answered  the  Toltec. 

"  Dost  thou  ask  it  for  a  sacrifice  ?"  questioned  the  emperor. 

"Nay,  my  lord,"  returned  the  other,  "it  is  not  my  custom  to 
offer  other  sacrifices  than  those  of  flowers.  I  would  put  the 
animal  I  ask  for,  to  use." 

"Thou  shalt  have  it,"  replied  Guatemozin,  "if  it  can  serve 
thee ;  but  I  would  not  have  you  trust  yourself  with  its  manage- 
ment." 

"Enough,  my  lord,"  added  the  Toltec,  with  a  brighter  eye, 
and  a  step  elastic  with  animation;  "  trust  me  to  guide  the  ani- 
mal, and  bring  the  maiden  back." 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 


In  a  short  time  Malmiztic  had  mounted  one  of  the  noble  steeds 
which  had  been  captured  by  the  Mexicans,  and  as  he  passed 
through  the  streets  bestriding  the  animal,  the  Aztec  multitude 
poured  forth  in  such  throngs  that  they  filled  both  sides  of  the 
way,  while  the  priests  were  enraged  that  their  sacrifice  should  be 
taken  from  them,  and  the  populace  trembled  with  fear  and  super- 
stition to  behold  the  Toltec  mounted  upon  the  strange  animal, 
and  moving  away  upon  it  as  if  he  were  a  Christian  cavalier. 

He  bent  his  course  towards  Tlascala,  while  the  wondering 
populace  turned  back  to  muse  upon  the  magic  of  the  mighty 
Malmiztic. 

As  the  noble  beast  caught  the  fresh  air  of  the  country,  he 
bounded  away  beautifully,  as  if  glad  to  escape  from  the  confine- 
ment of  the  town.  In  a  short  time,  the  city  lay  far  behind  the 
horse  and  rider,  and  plain  and  hill,  meadow  and  mountain  were 
passed  until  the  setting  sun  found  them  outside  of  the  Aztec  ter- 
ritory, and  more  than  half  way  to  the  city  of  Tla^ala. 

Malmiztic  checked  the  animal  at  a  cottage  door  which  stood 
on  the  skirt  of  a  forest.  The  tenants  beheld  the  steed,  and 
deeming  it  a  monster  fled  for  their  lives.  Malmiztic  dismounted 
and  entered  the  vacant  tenement,  after  having  secured  his  horse, 
rested  himself,  but  slept  but  little  for  the  night. 

When  the  angels  of  the  morning  raised  their  silver  spears  of 
light  over  the  eastern  walls  of  heaven,  Malmiztic  was  again  jour- 
neying towards  Tlascala ;  before  nightfall  the  towers  of  the  city 
were  seen  gilded  by  the  evening  sun. 

Meeting  a  peasant  in  the  highway,  the  Toltec  inquired  in  what 
part  of  the  city  the  Christians  were  quartered.  The  other  in- 
formed him  that  they  had  started  upon  a  campaign  against  the 

(283) 


284  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

neighboring  provinces,  and  pointed  out  a  trail  which  marked  their 
course  across  the  plains  and  through  the  forest. 

Malmiztic  instantly  started  off  in  pursuit  of  the  Christian 
camp,  and  as  day  declined,  fresh  evidences  of  the  troops  could 
be  seen  in  every  mile.  The  tracks  of  horses  and  of  men,  the 
marks  of  fire  where  they  had  halted,  all  plainly  proved  that  he 
was  fast  approaching  the  party  of  Cortes. 

Again  night  fell,  and  the  Toltec,  weary  from  his  unusual  ex- 
ercise, rested,  and  fed  his  gallant  animal  from  a  neighboring 
maize  field,  while  he  himself  formed  a  pent-house  of  its  stalks 
and  leaves  and  lay  upon  a  bed  of  the  same  material,  as  if  it  were 
a  rich  couch  in  one  of  his  own  palaces. 

So  doth  love  and  hope  ever  soften  the  hard  realities  of  life. 

Morn  blushed  again,  and  by  the  yellow  noon  Malmiztic  de- 
scried, in  the  distance,  the  rear  skirt  of  Cortes*  army,  which  was 
composed  of  Tlascalans. 

All  day  long  he  hovered  in  sight,  as  the  army  moved  forward, 
using  the  utmost  caution  not  to  be  discovered  by  them.  At 
length,  the  friendly  cover  of  darkness  came  to  his  aid,  and  he 
beheld  the  troops  halt,  and  fix  their  tents  for  the  night,  in  a  fine 
grove  of  tall  trees. 

At  sunset  a  few  clouds  shaded  the  heavens,  and  the  early  part 
of  the  evening  was  gloomy,  but  as  the  night  advanced,  the  moon 
came  up  in  her  full-orbed  splendor,  and  shed  a  white  light  upon 
the  quiet  camp  of  Cortes. 

All  was  silent  around  ;  the  wearied  troops,  after  their  evening 
meal,  slept  profoundly,  and  sound  after  sound  ceased  to  be  heard, 
except  the  even  tread  of  the  sentinel  upon  his  watch,  or  some 
movement  within  the  tents,  of  a  cavalier  preparing  his  rough 
resting-place,  or  a  more  pious  soldier  offering  up  his  Ave  or 
Pater,  previous  to  trusting  his  soul  and  body  to  the  guardian 
spirits  of  the  night. 

The  moon  had  climbed  to  the  meridian,  and  all  the  noisy  evi- 
dences of  life  were  hushed ;  a  death  stillness  reigned  over  the 
white  tents,  whose  loose  canvass  flapped  slowly  in  the  night 
breeze. 

In  a  tent  near  the  quarters  of  Cortes  was  the  princess,  Tecalco, 
and  in  the  same  tent,  partly  as  a  companion,  but  chiefly  as  a 


THE    CAVALIERS   OF    THE    CK0S8.  f86 

guardian  or  keeper,  was  Marina,  the  beautiful  interpreter,  whom 
Cortes  had  charged  with  the  custody  of  the  Aztec  maiden.  A 
figure  approached  the  tent,  tall,  handsome,  and  active — it  was 
Alvarado — he  came  quietly  to  the  doorway,  or  rather  opening  in 
the  tent,  and  in  a  low  but  rich,  melodious  voice,  whispered  : 

**  Marina,  let  me  speak  with  thee." 

**Who  calls?"  demanded  the  girl  of  Tobasco. 

* 'Alvarado,"  answered  the  other. 

Marina  rose,  and  throwing  a  loose  mantle  about  her  fine  figure, 
eame  to  the  cavalier. 

*'I  have  a  word  for  thee,  lovely  Marina,"  said  Alvarado,  with 
his  most  sweet  and  insinuating  smile.  "Why  dost  thou  not  gain 
the  love  of  Cortes  ?  I  speak  at  once  frankly ;  why  dost  thou  let 
his  heart  wander  from  thee  ?" 

**It  has  not  gone  astray,"  returned  the  maiden. 

**Alas  !"  replied  the  other,  "  how  hopelessly  blind  is  fond  love  ! 
Canst  thou  not  see  that  he  has  grown  cold  towards  thee  ?" 

**  True,"  returned  the  maid,  **  he  was  once  more  kind,  but  yet 
he  loves  me  well." 

"Loves  thee  !  deluded  girl,  he  loathes  thee,  and  but  for  thy 
services  in  talk  with  native  kings  and  chiefs,  would  banish  thee 
to-morrow.  Where  now  are  all  the  former  gentle  favors  shown 
to  thee  ?  Where  are  those  many  kindnesses  with  which  thou 
wert  formerly  greeted  by  all  ?" 

''Alas!  Alvarado,"  she  replied,  "they  have  indeed  grown 
less,  but  yet  for  the  love  of  Cortes,  I  would  bear  a  thousand 
greater  ills.  1  were  blest  as  his  slave,  if  I  could  share  his 
love." 

"  Oh  !  how  dull  to  sight  thou  art !"  exclaimed  the  wily  Span- 
iard ;  "  here,  by  thy  side,  at  this  moment,  he  is  bearing  with  him 
one  to  supplant  thee  in  his  affections,  and  drive  thy  memory  from 
his  heart." 

"  Where  ?"  exclaimed  the  Indian  maid,  and  her  bosom  heaved 
with  agitation. 

"Where!"  reiterated  Alvarado,  "why,  there!"  pointing  his 
finger  to  the  form  of  Tecalco,  who  was  sleeping  within. 

The  eye  of  the  angered  serpent  blazes  not  more  sudden  or 
brilliantly  than  did   the  dark  orbs  of  Marina,  as  the  shrewd 


286  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC ;    AND 

Spaniard  touched  her  heart  with  this  barb  of  jealousy.  Her  whole 
countenance  changed  in  an  instant,  and  her  lips  quivered,  as  she 
exclaimed ; 

"  Christian,  I  conjure  you,  by  the  name  of  the  Virgin,  answer 
me ;  is  this  true  V* 

**  By  Santiago,  as  I  live,"  he  replied,  **  Cortes  means  nothing 
more  or  less  than  that  thou  shalt  be  the  keeper  for  the  victim  of 
his  passionate  desire.'* 

**  By  heaven  !"  said  the  Tobascan  girl,  and  her  rich,  red  lips 
blanched  as  she  spake,  *'  It  shall  not  be  !  mortal  woman  shall  not 
snatch  him  from  my  arms.  If  other  hands  cling  about  his  neck, 
I  will  sever  them  like  the  tendrils  of  a  poison- vine.  Alvarado !" 
exclaimed  she,  starting  to  her  feet,  **  the  dark  eyes  of  that  en- 
chantress have  rested  upon  Cortes,  and  spell-bound  him  with  their 
beauty.  Those  magic  stars  must  cease  to  shine  ;  they  shed  rays 
of  maddening  witchery  upon  the  waters  of  his  soul !" 

**  Who  would  think,"  returned  the  Spaniard,  **that  she  who 
would  wrest  the  love  of  Cortes  from  thee,  could  sleep  so  sweetly  ?" 

*'She  shall  sleep  more  soundly,"  said  Marina,  in  a  deep  and 
fearful  tone. 

*'  Nay,  by  the  Virgin,  thou  must  not  injure  her,"  interposed  the 
cavaher,  *'or  the  wrath  of  Cortes  will  fall  fearfully  upon  thee." 

**Why  should  I  fear  wrath?"  answered  she,  "when  love  is 
gone,  what  is  life  ?  Two  images  must  not  play  upon  the  fountain 
of  his  heart.     He  must  not  see  her  again  alive  !" 

**  Heavens  !  Marina,"  said  Alvarado,  with  well-feigned  aston- 
ishment, "  you  would  not  murder  her  ?" 

**  She  or  I  must  die  !"  said  the  frantic  woman. 

"  Nay,"  said  Alvarado,  **  thou  shalt  not  plunge  thy  soul  thus 
into  perdition  for  this  girl.  I  have  a  scheme — she  shall  be 
mine." 

"  Good !"  instantly  exclaimed  Marina,  "  but  what  canst  thou 
do  to  accomplish  this  ?" 

**  I  will  bear  her  to  a  peasant's  cottage,  hard  by,  and  secrete 
her,  and  in  the  morning  Cortes  will  be  far  on  his  march,  before  he 
shall  discover  that  she  is  gone. 

**  It  is  well,"  replied  Marina,  something  more  calmly. 

**  Come,  then,"  said  Alvarado,  "  awaken  her,  and  bid  her  meet 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  287 

Cortes  by  the  skirt  of  yon  forest ;  she  will  not  dare  refuse.  When 
thou  hast  reached  it,  thou  wilt  find  me  in  readiness  there  ;  return 
thou,  then,  without  loss  of  time,  and  leave  the  rest  to  me.'* 

"Enough,"  answered  Marina,  and  Alvarado  departed.  But  as 
he  passed  out  of  the  doorway  of  the  tent,  a  dark  figure  glided 
behind  a  clump  of  trees  at  hand,  without  being  discovered  by 
Alvarado. 

Marina  then  entered  the  tent,  and  gently  awakened  the  beauti- 
ful princess,  who  slept  within,  and  communicated  to  her  the  pre- 
tended order  of  the  Spanish  general.  Tecalco  willingly,  but 
wonderingly  complied  with  the  mandate,  and  the  two  moved  off 
in  the  direction  of  the  wood,  hard  by,  where  they  were  soon 
joined  by  Alvarado.  At  this  moment,  Marina,  at  a  sign  from 
the  Spaniard,  suddenly  turned  about  and  disappeared,  before  the 
astonished  girl  could  recover  from  her  surprise.  Alvarado  in- 
stantly seized  upon  her  ;  Tecalco  gave  a  scream,  but  Alvarado 
throwing  an  arm  around  her  neck,  laid  his  hand  upon  her  mouth, 
and  with  the  other  drew  his  sword,  and  threatened  instant  death 
if  she  murmured. 

The  princess,  terrified  and  overpowered,  fell  upon  her  knees, 
while  the  hot-blooded  Spaniard  bent  down  and  printed  his  kisses 
thick  upon  her  lips.  The  maiden  struggled  in  his  embrace  for  a 
moment,  and  suddenly  fainted,  when  with  a  tremendous  rush,  a 
horseman  charging  through  the  black  shadows  of  the  thick  grove, 
came  upon  them,  and  in  another  instant,  a  blow  from  a  blade 
which  gleamed  like  a  meteor,  glanced  upon  Alvarado's  skull,  but 
only  stunned  him,  although  he  fell  as  if  dead.  In  a  moment 
more,  an  arm,  as  if  of  a  giant,  lifted  the  form  of  Tecalco  from 
the  earth,  and  swung  her  up  before  him  upon  the  steed,  and 
dashed  away,  just  as  Alvarado  was  rising  to  his  feet. 

"A  Christian  !"  exclaimed  the  astounded  knight,  **  a  cavalier  ! 
a  fellow-soldier.     In  the  name  of  the  Virgin  who  can  this  be?'* 

By  the  white  gleams  of  the  moon,  the  knight  descried  a  glimpse 
of  the  horseman  and  his  burthen,  flying  like  a  black  cloud,  past 
the  distant  groups  of  aloe,  and  in  the  next  instant  plunging  into 
the  thick-leaved  groves,  whose  dark  shades  were  silvered  over  by 
the  moon. 

Alvarado  hurried  back  to  the  camp,  and  seeing  Marina,  agreed 


288  THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS. 

upon  a  tale ;  he  next  ran  to  arouse  Cortes,  who  immediately 
called  up  the  whole  camp,  and  gave  pursuit  according  to  the 
directions  of  Alvarado  and  Marina,  who  described  the  horseman 
as  having  rushed  like  a  flash  of  lightning  to  the  tent,  and  seizing 
the  princess,  made  to  the  woods  hard  by,  followed  by  Alvarado, 
who  called  upon  the  guard  ineffectually,  but  at  length  overtook 
the  bold  intruder,  who,  wheeling  upon  Alvarado,  gave  him  this 
tremendous  blow,  which  felled  him  to  the  earth. 

When  Cortes  had  caught  this  tale,  he  instantly  mounted  his 
steed,  and  flew  to  the  spot  which  Alvarado  had  described,  and 
there  he  could  plainly  discover,  by  the  moon's  light  upon  the 
earth,  the  tracks  of  a  horse  with  shoes  on.  Cortes  instantly 
ordered  the  horses  to  be  counted  ;  the  full  number  were  found  in 
their  places  ;  again  and  again  they  were  told,  and  with  a  like 
result. 

The  Indian  sentinel,  who  had  been  fast  asleep,  by  whose  post 
he  was  said  to  have  passed,  said  that  at  first  he  had  supposed  it 
to  be  a  man,  and  that  afterwards  it  assumed  the  shape  of  a  horse, 
and  that  suddenly  it  appeared  as  a  mounted  cavalier,  carrying  a 
lady  in  his  arms,  and  that  the  strange  animal  had  risen  in  the  air, 
and  mounted,  until  it  had  lifted  itself  over  the  top  of  the  neigh- 
boring groves,  and  pursued  its  way  aloft  through  the  moonlit  air; 
until  it  had  dwindled  to  a  small,  black  cloud  in  the  distance  ! 

This  marvelous  story  Cortes  paid  no  regard  to,  but  calling  his 
men,  set  out  as  fast  as  possible,  in  the  direction  suggested  by 
Alvarado. 

The  horsemen  galloped  hard  to  overtake  the  mysterious  fugi- 
tive, but  although  they  scoured  every  grove,  thicket  or  copse  in 
the  vicinity,  nothing  could  be  seen  of  the  strange  rider  and  horse 
which  had  borne  away  from  the  enraged  Cortes  the  beautiful 
daughter  of  Montezuma. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 


The  old  mower,  Time,  had  made  few  strokes  with  his  scythe, 
before  Hernando  Cortes  began  to  make  his  sallies  upon  the  rebel- 
lious provinces,  and  in  these  forays  the  might  of  Christian  mind, 
and  power  of  European  invention,  invariably  carried  all  before 
them. 

Town  after  town  resisted,  but  as  surely  fell ;  and  village  upon 
village  blazed  from  the  torches  of  its  own  inhabitants,  who,  fly- 
ing with  their  families  and  lighter  goods,  sought  shelter  in  the 
fastnesses  of  the  mountains. 

In  one  of  these  distant  towns,  known  afterwards  as  Puebla  Mo- 
resca,  the  Spaniards  came  upon  a  sight  which  froze  their  blood 
with  horror :  in  a  vast  edifice  of  stone,  with  white-washed  walls, 
after  the  frightened  inhabitants  had  evacuated  the  city,  the  Span- 
iards found  a  large  room  which  had  been  used  as  a  prison,  and 
upon  the  wall  was  a  hand- writing  in  blood,  saying  : 

"  Here  the  unfortunate  Juan  Yuste  and  his  associates  were 
confined  and  tortured." 

From  this,  Cortes  and  his  followers  passed  into  another  room, 
where  they  shuddered  to  behold  the  tanned  skins  and  beards  of 
their  former  companions,  who  had  been  captured  while  on  a  for- 
aging excursion.  This  sight  excised  the  ire  of  Cortes  to  the 
highest  degree,  and  he  laid  waste  the  whole  country,  until  he 
came  to  the  city  of  Cuernavaca,  which  was  situated  upon  the 
pinnacle  of  a  mountain  whose  precipitous  sides  were  almost  inac- 
cessible, and  which,  from  its  height  of  rocky  crags,  seemed  to 
laugh  defiance  upon  the  Spaniards. 

At  the  base  of  the  mountain  rushed  a  roaring  torrent,  which 

cut  off  the  approach  of  the   Christians ,    it  went   driving  and 

whirling  through  the  narrow  gorge  or  ravine,  and  its  eddying 

foam,   boiling  in  its   bed,   rushed   over  rocks    and  played  in 

26  (289) 


290  MALMIZTIC,  THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

whirlpools  far  down  the  ravine,  which  was  filled  with  rank  vege- 
tation and  overhung  with  forest  trees  almost  black  in  the  luxu- 
riance of  their  leaves,  which  gave  a  deep  shadowy  gloom  to  the 
glen  below. 

There  was  no  ford,  and  the  inhabitants  had  destroyed  the 
bridges  which  spanned  the  stream,  and  the  Spaniards  were  thus 
held  completely  aloof. 

At  length,  the  daring  Sandoval  descried  two  trees,  one  upon 
each  bank  of  the  stream,  whose  branches  nearly  met  in  air  mid- 
way over  the  water.  The  knight  boldly  climbed  out  to  the  dizzy 
and  dangerous  end  of  one  of  the  limbs  of  the  tree,  and  seizing 
the  bough  of  the  opposite  tree,  he  swung  himself  with  great 
agility  fairly  across  the  gulf,  and  caught  in  the  stouter  branches 
of  the  other  tree,  and  was  soon  upon  the  opposing  bank,  where 
he  was  hailed  by  cheers  from  his  companions. 

Emboldened  by  his  example,  others  soon  followed;  but  at 
length  three  Indians,  less  active,  having  their  temerity  excited, 
essayed  to  cross,  when  a  treacherous  branch  broke  and  precipi- 
tated them  from  their  giddy  eminence  down  into  the  torrent ;  two 
were  fortunate  enough  to  fall  in  the  water,  but  the  third,  striking 
on  the  rocks  over  which  the  stream  rushed,  broke  his  thigh,  and 
it  was  with  difficulty  that  his  companions  could  save  him  from 
drowning. 

At  length,  ropes  were  got  across,  and  the  party  passed  over 
and  began  to  ascend  the  mountain,  when  the  enemy,  being  pre- 
pared for  them,  commenced  to  hurl  large  stones  and  rocks  down 
the  declivity.  Cortes  press'^.d  hard  up  the  hill,  followed  by  his 
soldiery,  but  the  stream  of  stmes  which  came, thickened  moment- 
arily, until  there  was  no  method  of  avoiding  or  escaping  them. 
The  inhabitants  collected  upon  the  summit,  and  with  shouts  let 
loose  the  fragments,  which  cam  *.  bounding  down  the  steep  sides 
with  destructive  rapidity.  Greal  numbers  of  the  troops  of  Cortes 
were  severely  wounded,  and  evei  y  effort  to  mount  seemed  likely 
to  be  repulsed,  when  Cortes,  with  the  cry  of  "  Castile,  forever !" 
leaped  into  a  narrow  path  which  afforded  a  more  secure  footing, 
and  by  this  means  a  few  gained  the  top,  and  by  their  valor  forced 
back  the  whole  body  who  were  engaged  in  hurling  stones  and 
missiles  down  the  mountain  side. 


1 


THE    CAVALIERS    OP    THE    CROSS.  291 

In  a  short  time  the  whole  Spanish  force  had  reached  the  sum- 
mit, and  poured  into  the  city,  where  they  wrought  fearful  havoc 
among  the  inhabitants,  who  stoutly  opposed  them ;  but  by  night- 
fall the  fiery  cavaliers  of  the  Cross  had  routed  the  brave  pagans, 
and  had  full  possession  of  their  city  of  the  mountain  top. 

This  stronghold  being  carried,  Cortes  turned  his  course,  and 
swept  the  whole  region  before  him,  until  he  once  more  stood 
upon  the  mountain  wall  which  girded  round  the  glorious  valley 
of  the  lakes. 

He  next  prepared  to  attack  Xochimilco  (the  field  of  flowers), 
the  beautiful  city  on  the  lake  of  the  same  name ;  but  here  he 
found  that  terrible  resistance  was  to  be  expected,  for  Guatemozin 
had  assembled  there  immense  numbers,  who  met  Cortes  and  his 
men  in  conflict  with  heroic  firmness  ;  but  notwithstanding  the 
vast  multitude,  and  their  resolute  demeanor,  the  glittering  banner 
of  the  Cross  carried  victory  before  it,  and  the  shout  which  went 
up  for  Spain  and  St.  James  was  soon  heard  in  the  heart  of  the 
city,  from  which  the  inhabitants  were  pursued  with  fearful 
slaughter. 

But  while  the  Spaniards  were  pursuing  the  Aztecs,  a  band 
from  Mexico,  headed  by  Malmiztic,  all  armed  with  steel  blades, 
which  had  been  taken  at  the  terrible  battle  of  Noche  Triste, 
burst  upon  the  Christians  suddenly,  and  the  dismay  of  the  latter 
was  terrific.  Amazed  to  behold  bright  steel  blades  in  the  hands 
of  the  adversary,  instead  of  maquahuitls,  the  Christians  became 
confused,  and  would  have  been  completely  overwhelmed,  had  not 
Cortes  turned  the  whole  tide  of  his  power  upon  the  small  party, 
who,  seeing  the  disparity  of  numbers,  and  the  flight  of  the  citi- 
zens, soon  gained  their  boats  upon  the  lakes,  and  stood  away 
for  Mexico. 

Cortes  now  completely  invested  the  splendid  city  of  Xochi- 
milco. From  this  point  he  began  an  entire  circuit  of  the  lakes. 
The  inhabitants  of  the  various  towns  upon  the  border  fought 
fiercely,  being  roused  by  Guatemozin  to  a  pitch  of  enmity  against 
the  Christians ;  but  conquest  and  subjugation  was  the  fate  of 
every  city  or  village  which  opposed  the  progress  of  Cortes  and 
his  allies. 

Thus  every  day  brought  news  of  the  capitulation  of  some  city 


292  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC ;    AND 

upon  the  route,  and  chieftain  after  chieftain,  and  lord  upon  lord, 
surrendered  themselves  to  the  irresistible  Christian  commander, 
until  he  had  traversed  the  entire  circuit  of  the  lakes,  halting  at 
length  at  Tezcuco,  at  which  great  city  he  was  joined  by  a  new 
troop  of  soldiers  from  Vera  Cruz,  and  a  body  of  Tlascalans, 
under  the  brave  Xicotencatl. 

Cortes  now  made  a  grand  review,  and  found  his  forces  to  con- 
sist of  more  than  a  thousand  Christians,  and  seventy-five  thou- 
sand allies.  This  immense  multitude  congregated  in  the  spacious 
market-place  of  the  city  of  Tezcuco,  of  which  place  Cortes  had 
made  Ixtliloxchitl  king ;  and  here  Cortes  communicated  his  design 
of  besieging  the  metropolis. 

Shortly  after  this  review,  came  the  grand  affair  of  launching 
the  thirteen  brigs,  which  had  been  built  in  Tlascala  and  trans- 
ported to  the  lakes.  It  was  a  sight  of  great  joy  to  the  Christians 
to  behold  the  white  sails  spread  to  the  breeze  upon  those  beauti- 
ful lakes,  where  never  before  floated  other  craft  than  arrowy 
canoes  and  narrow  barges.  But  to  the  Mexicans  it  was  a  work 
of  magic,  at  which  they  gazed  with  wonder  and  amazement. 

And  now,  the  order  of  battle  was  made  known,  which  was, 
namely,  that  they  should  enter  on  the  three  different  sides  of  the 
city  at  once,  by  the  respective  causeways. 

While  Cortes  was  making  these  active  and  grand  preparations, 
one  Antonio  de  Villafana,  a  dark  and  malignant  traitor,  con- 
spired to  take  the  life  of  the  general.  By  slily  circulating  evil 
reports  among  the  new  comers,  the  conspirator  managed  to  pro- 
duce a  disaffection,  which  was  increasing  to  an  alarming  extent. 
It  was  designed  to  steal  into  his  quarters  by  night,  and  assassi- 
nate him.  The  scheme  of  this  cold-blooded  murder  was  commu- 
nicated to  Alvarado,  it  being  suspected  that  there  was  a  degree 
of  jealousy  or  rivalry  existing  between  the  knight  and  his  com- 
mander ;  but  Alvarado,  with  the  true  spirit  of  a  proud-hearted 
Spanish  hidalgo,  was  no  sooner  master  of  the  damnable  design, 
than  he  proceeded  forthwith  to  Cortes,  and  disclosed  all  that  had 
been  divulged  to  him.  The  general  was  thunder-struck.  Having 
heard  the  whole  plot,  and  thanked  Alvarado  for  his  integrity,  he 
deliberately  proceeded  to  examine  Villafana,  after  having  ar- 
rested him.     During  his  examination,  the  traitor  manifested  some 


THE    CAVALIERS   OF    THE    CROSS.  293 

uneasiness  in  regard  to  something  about  his  person,  and  the  quick 
eye  of  Cortes  detected  in  his  bosom  a  scroll  of  paper,  which  the 
general  instantly  seized  upon.  The  conspirator  started  back,  ap- 
palled and  trembling ;  his  face  became  a  livid  white,  and  his 
knees  smote  each  other,  while  the  iron-nerved  Cortes,  after  fixing 
his  piercing  eyes  full  upon  the  confused  conspirator,  leisurely 
proceeded  to  peruse  the  scroll,  which  contained  a  full  and  de- 
tailed account  of  the  manner  in  which  Cortes  was  to  be  destroyed, 
and  the  subsequent  disposition  of  the  forces. 

Cortes  called  for  his  officers,  and  read  the  fatal  scroll,  and  then 
drew  from  his  own  pocket  the  military  regulations  of  the  army ; 
and  in  the  presence  of  the  company,  pronounced  the  sentence  of 
martial  law  upon  Antonio  de  Villafaiia. 

On  the  morrow,  while  yet  the  morning  wore  her  robes  of  grey, 
from  the  window  of  a  conspicuous  house  in  Tezcuco,  the  stiiff 
body  of  the  conspirator  could  be  seen  hanging  by  the  neck,  while 
the  multitude  gazed  upon  the  dark  face  of  the  strangled  traitor. 
Not  a  sympathetic  word  was  uttered,  not  a  look  of  commisera- 
tion was  given,  but  the  foul  carcass  hung  at  the  window  all  day 
long,  an  object  of  horror,  disgust  and  loathing,  and  many  a  pale 
face  could  be  seen  in  the  multitude,  of  those  who  participated  in 
his  crime,  but  Cortes  pushed  his  punishment  no  farther;  he  had 
made  a  sudden  and  startling  example,  and  the  impression  pro- 
duced thereby,  was  one  not  easily  to  be  eradicated,  either  from 
the  memory  of  his  own  men,  or  the  thousands  of  allies  who  wit- 
nessed the  terrible  end  of  the  conspirator. 

All  the  cities  around  the  entire  border  of  the  lakes,  had  now 
submitted  to  the  Christian  conqueror ;  but  in  Iztapalapan,  there 
were  quartered  a  number  of  Mexicans,  who  used  every  opportu- 
nity to  thwart  the  movements  of  the  Christians,  and  there  Guate- 
mozin  had  covertly  placed  Malmiztic  with  a  body  of  brave  Aztiecs, 
whose  occasional  sallies  annoyed  the  Spanish  general  to  the 
highest  degree,  until  he  determined  to  rout  and  dislodge  this  hid- 
den enemy,  or  level  the  city  upon  its  site.  Accordingly  he  dis- 
patched Sandoval  and  Alvarado  to  fall  upon  it  by  night ;  but  the 
eye  of  Malmiztic  had  marked  their  preparation,  and  provided  for 
it  accordingly ;  and  he  likewise  advised  Guatemozin  of  his  suspi- 


294  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

cions,  and  urged  him  to  send  a  fleet  of  canoes  across  to  their 
support  as  soon  as  the  darkness  had  fallen  upon  the  waters. 

Night  came  on,  and  the  Spaniards  entered  the  city,  and  the 
conflict  commenced.  Every  square  was  contested  with  obstinate 
valor.  The  Spaniards  steadily  progressed,  but  it  was  at  the 
sword's  point.  The  Aztecs  stood  their  ground  with  an  unpar- 
alleled firmness,  and  not  in  one  point  alone,  but  in  every  portion 
of  the  city  the  contest  raged  hand  to  hand,  and  if  for  a  moment 
the  Aztec  host  fell  back,  it  was  but  to  form  anew,  and  return  to 
the  fray  with  redoubled  ardor. 

Surprised  and  vexed  at  this  unwonted  firmness  of  the  enemy, 
Sandoval  suddenly  determined  to  lay  waste  the  city  before  them, 
by  fire,  and  in  a  brief  space  of  time,  the  red  torches  could  be  seen 
hurrying  hither  and  thither  through  the  darkness  of  the  night, 
and  the  fierce  element,  kindling  rapidly,  soon  threw  up  a  glare 
whose  fiery  shadow  fell  upon  the  lake  and  lighted  the  land,  re- 
vealing the  combatants  in  their  sanguinary  strife,  with  shouts 
which  startled  the  sleeping  echoes  of  the  valley. 

At  length  the  Aztecs  retired,  fighting  slowly,  and  the  soldiers 
of  Cortes  began  to  pillage  and  burn  every  house  in  their  way. 
In  the  meantime,  Malmiztic  had  collected  the  Aztec  forces,  and 
retired  to  the  farther  side  of  the  city,  where  all,  or  most  of  their 
canoes  were  stationed,  and  instantly  he  began  the  work  of  de- 
molishing the  embankment,  which  kept  one  of  the  lakes  from 
overflowing  the  city,  which  was  situated  considerably  below  the 
level  of  the  water.  The  Aztec  myriads  worked  with  the  industry 
and  activity  of  bees.  In  a  short  time  the  earth  and  timber  were 
toni  away,  and  the  vast  volume  of  water  burst  through  in  a  tre- 
mendous torrent,  sweeping  everything  in  its  impetuous  course. 
The  Aztecs  fled  for  safety  to  their  boats,  and  had  scarcely  time 
to  gain  them,  when  the  powerful  current  swept  their  craft  far  out 
into  the  lake. 

And  now  the  Spaniards,  who  were  making  a  universal  bonfire 
of  the  town,  and  kindling  fl"a^es  whose  lurid  glare  gleamed  crim- 
son upon  the  waters,  were  suddenly  amazed  to  behold  a  torrent 
come  rolling  in  upon  them,  swallowing  up  everything  Hving,  in 
its  mad  course. 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  29fi 

There  was  no  time  for  orders,  every  Spaniard  fled  whithersoever 
his  mind  prompted  him,  and  the  consternation  of  the  horsemen 
was  scarcely  less  great  than  the  confusion  of  the  infantry.  A 
large  number  of  the  allies  were  overwhelmed,  and  the  night 
growing  dark,  rendered  escape  more  difficult  than  ever.  At 
length  the  commander  of  the  Christians,  with  the  major  part  of 
his  troops,  gained  the  highest  ground  of  the  city,  and  leaving 
their  horses  in  the  care  of  a  strong  body  of  soldiery,  in  a  fortified 
and  elevated  position,  took  advantage  of  some  boats,  and  crossed 
to  Tezcuco.  And,  as  Cortes  himself  said,  in  a  letter  to  the  em- 
peror of  Spain,  "  When  it  was  dayhght,  we  saw  the  water  of 
one  lake  was  on  a  level  with  the  water  of  the  other,  and  there 
was  no  current,  and  all  the  salt  lake  was  covered  with  canoes 
filled  with  warriors." 

This  repulse  was  far  from  dispiriting  the  courageous  Cortes, 
and  in  a  short  time  he  was  again  prepared  to  make  an  attack  upon 
the  great  city  itself,  its  tributaries  being  all  cut  oflF.  But  at  this 
time,  Cortes  heard  the  news  that  Xicotencatl,  the  Tlascalan  chief- 
tain, becoming  disaflfected,  was  about  to  withdraw,  with  some  ten 
thousand  of  his  troops,  and  return  to  his  capital  of  Tlascala. 
The  general  waited  until  Xicotencatl  had  started,  when  he  had 
him  arrested  as  a  deserter  !  In  vain  the  noble  warrior  pleaded 
his  independence  and  perfect  right  to  retire  from  the  service  of 
Cortes  at  will,  but  the  Spanish  commander  held  his  formal  court, 
and  pronounced  him  a  traitor  and  a  deserter,  and  that  as  such,  he 
must  suffer  death  ! 

At  this,  Alvarado  rose  in  the  council,  and  in  the  most  powerful 
and  pathetic  manner,  spoke  in  behalf  of  the  Tlascalan  chieftain, 
lauding  his  gallantry,  his  firmness  and  patriotism,  and  the  per- 
fect faith  with  which  he  kept  all  prior  pledges. 

For  this  speech,  Cortes  rose  and  censured  Alvarado  in  severe 
terms,  and  again  expressed  his  fixed  determination  to  carry  out 
the  sentence  of  the  law. 

But  once  more,  Alvarado  replied,  and  with  that  impassioned 
eloquence  and  earnestness  which  thrilled  the  hearts  of  the  hearers, 
while  his  own  handsome  face,  lighted  up  by  animation  and  inter- 
est for  the  unfortunate  prince,  contrasted  powerfully  with  the 
compressed  lips  and  knitted  brows  of  his  general. 


t96  MALMIZ,TIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

Alvarado  spoke  with  burning  words  and  an  impulsive  enthusi- 
asm, and  dwelt  feelingly  upon  the  lofty  and  chivalric  character 
of  the  young  chief,  and  the  little  necessity  there  would  be  for  his 
troops  or  aid,  while  daily  thousands  of  natives  of  the  region 
round  poured  into  the  camp  of  Cortes.  But  in  spite  of  all  inter- 
ference or  entreaty,  the  iron-souled  conqueror  sternly  insisted 
upon  carrying  his  decree  into  cftect ;  and  it  was  soon  carried 
through  the  camp  of  Cortes  and  his  allies,  who  had  now  swelled 
to  the  vast  number  of  two  hundred  and  forty  thousand,  that 
Xicotencatl,  the  brave,  the  heroic,  the  most  noble  Tlascalan  must 
die! 

The  veterans,  who  had  looked  with  stem  complacency  upon 
the  execution  of  Villafana,  murmured  among  themselves  and 
wore  gloomy  brows  of  silent  disapprobation. 

The  gallows  was  erected  in  the  public  square  of  Tezcuco,  and 
the  manly  captive  was  brought  forth.  Thousands  flocked  around, 
with  looks  of  painful  sympathy,  as  the  soldiers  led  the  victim 
towards  the  scaffold. 

At  this  point,  the  feelings  of  Alvarado  overcame  him,  and 
stepping  forth  from  his  place  among  the  crowd,  he  exclaimed,  in 
a  bold  tone : 

**  Don  Hernando  Cortes,  as  a  Spanish  knight  and  a  nobleman, 
I  protest  against  this  proceeding,  in  the  name  of  our  order,  and 
by  the  holiness  of  the  Virgin  !" 

**  What  means  this  daring  presumption  ?"  said  the  general, 
turning  upon  the  speaker  with  a  fierce  scowl. 

**  It  means,"  said  Alvarado,  with  a  look  as  bold  and  fierce  as 
the  other,  **  that  I  here  enter  my  protest  against  this  military 
murder !  and  demand  justice,  rather  than  claim  clemency  for  the 
free  chieftain,  Xicotencatl." 

**This,"  said  Cortes,  with  a  bitter  and  sarcastic  look,  "comes 
with  admirable  grace  from  the  man  who  massacred  the  whole  host 
of  Mexican  nobles  in  cold  blood." 

At  these  words,  Alvarado  withered,  and  retired  without  a  word 
into  the  crowd. 

*'  Proceed  with  the  execution  !"  said  the  stern,  cold  conqueror, 
and  obedient  officials  moved  to  execute  the  mandate. 

The  soldiers  led  the  condemned  noble  up  on  the  scaffold — ^the 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  297 

word  was  given,  and  the  heroic  Tlascalan  swung  oflf  with  a  con- 
vulsive struggle,  and  was  no  more  ! 

Tears  started  from  the  eyes  of  veteran  cavahers — tears  were 
upon  the  brown  and  sunburnt  cheeks  of  men  unused  to  weep. — 
But  the  eye  of  Hernando  Cortes  flashed  fiercely,  and  his  com- 
pressed lips  were  riveted. 

The  meek-eyed  angel  of  Pity  gave  a  glance  at  his  countenance, 
and  turning  her  blue  eyes  hopelessly  to  heaven,  heaved  a  sad 
sigh,  and  departed. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


It  was  the  thirteenth  day  of  May,  in  the  year  fifteen  hundred 
and  twenty-one,  according  to  Clavigero,  that  the  Spanish  gene- 
ral, Don  Hernando  Cortes,  with  a  thousand  Spaniards,  and  two 
hundred  and  forty  thousand  alHes,  began  the  siege  of  the  great 
city  of  Mexico. 

Upon  the  silver  waters  of  lake  Tezcuco  floated  a  fleet,  con- 
sisting of  thirteen  brigs,  rigged  and  equipped  under"  the  direction 
of  Martin  Lopez,  and  now  bearing,  as  commander  of  the  whole, 
the  Spanish  general  in  person. 

Alvarado  was  posted  in  Tacuba,  with  one  hundred  and  seventy 
Castilians,  and  twenty-five  thousand  allies,  together  with  some 
thirty  horses ;  and  about  the  like  amount  of  force,  under  Chris- 
toval  de  Olid,  commanded  Coyoacan;  while  Gonzales  de  Sando- 
val, with  a  still  greater  power,  occupied  the  city  of  Iztapalapan, 
upon  the  south. 

Thus  the  respective  parties  were  stationed  at  the  heads  of  the 
causeways  which  led  from  the  main  land,  upon  the  west,  the 
north,  and  the  south,  into  the  mighty  metropolis. 

The  first  great  master-stroke  which  Cortes  now  made,  was  to 
demolish  the  aqueduct,  that  splendid  piece  of  masonry  which  led 
the  fresh,  bright  waters  of  the  distant  hill  of  Chapoltepec  through 
the  blue  and  briny  lake,  in  a  solid  cemented  tunnel,  into  the  city, 
and  filled  its  thousand  reservoirs. 

There  were  wise  heads  in  Tenochtitlan,  to  whom  the  cutting 
oS  of  this  aqueduct  was  more  startling  than  the  approach  of  the 
thousands  upon  the  land,  and  the  fleet  upon  the  waters.  But,  to 
show  the  Spaniards  that  they  could  supply  themselves  from  the 
main  land,  by  their  boats,  whole  fleets  of  canoes  sallied  forth, 
and  returned  laden  with  water — and  piraguas,  filled  with  fruit 
(298) 


THE  CAVALIERS  OP  THE  CROSS.  299 

and  corn,  temptingly  ploughed  their  way  across  the  lake,  and 
entered  the  besieged  city. 

One  day,  however,  while  a  fleet  of  boats  were  crossing,  Cortes 
suddenly  weighed  anchor,  and  with  his  sails  spread,  bore  down 
upon  them  rapidly,  with  the  whole  squadron.  With  a  fair  wind 
the  brigs  sheared  the  bright  waves  of  the  ruffled  lake,  while  the 
Aztecs,  alarmed  at  this  sudden  and  strange  sight,  sought  safety 
by  flight  towards  the  land,  but  the  paddles  were  vainly  plied,  the 
swift  ships  swept  down  upon  them,  gaining  every  instant,  until 
suddenly  a  burst  of  thunder  roared  over  the  Elysian  lake,  and 
the  groups  of  canoes  were  seen  scattered  and  flying  to  fragments, 
as  the  lightning  flash  came  forth,  and  the  black  and  white  wreaths 
of  smoke  rolled  in  vast  billows  over  the  water  and  mounted  to 
the  blue  skies.  Again,  peal  upon  peal  broke  forth,  and  shook 
the  walls  of  the  palaces,  and  reverberated  in  the  encircling  chain 
of  mountains  which  girded  the  valley  of  the  lakes,  and  the  heavy 
balls,  striking  the  light  craft,  shivered  them  to  splinters. 

While  the  crews  of  the  brigs  were  thus  engaged,  the  terrified 
enemy  flew  in  all  directions  to  escape ;  this,  a  part  of  them  with 
difficulty  accomplished,  and  gained  the  shore,  but  the  bosom  of 
the  lake  swelled  with  shattered  wrecks  of  great  numbers  of  the 
canoes,  and  all  over  the  face  of  the  water  floated  fragments 
which  had  been  torn  away  by  the  terrible  enginery  of  the 
Christians. 

This  disastrous  stroke  made  the  Aztecs  more  cautious  and  pru- 
dent thereafter  respecting  their  bold  essays  upon  the  water. 

Shortly  afterwards,  Cortes,  with  his  brigs,  sailed  along  by  the 
causeways,  and  raked  them  with  his  cannon,  sweeping  down 
everything  before  the  might  of  the  great  guns,  which  startled  the 
hearts  of  the  Aztecs. 

Day  after  day,  the  several  divisions  under  the  diff'erent  Spanish 
commanders,  advanced  upon  the  city,  and  Cortes  continued  to 
batter  the  buildings  and  barriers  along  the  causeways,  which  the 
indefatigable  Guatemozin  defended  and  re-established,  until  the 
Christian  had  reached  the  end  of  the  great  avenue  where  it  en- 
tered the  suburbs,  filling  up,  as  he  passed,  all  breaches  in  the 
causeway,  in  order  to  afford  a  highway  for  his  horses  and 
artillery. 


300  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

Scarce  had  he  gained  this  point,  when  the  Aztecs  fell  upon 
hira  with  unusual  fierceness,  and  the  swarming  masses  disputed 
the  streets  with  Cortes,  and  from  the  terraced  roofs  of  the  build- 
ings poured  a  rattling  storm  of  missiles  upon  the  heads  of  the 
invaders,  which,  though  almost  ineflfective  upon  the  men  in  mail, 
sorely  wounded  the  defenceless  soldiers  and  allies  in  their  simple 
doublets  of  quilted  cotton. 

Thus,  constantly  advancing  against  the  tide  of  war,  Cortes, 
after  many  days  of  hard  and  bloody  fighting,  came  in  sight  of 
his  ancient  quarters,  the  palace  of  Axajacatl,  and  the  great  tem- 
ple of  Huitzilopotchtli ;  but  between  himself  and  those  points 
could  be  seen  constantly  gathered  along  the  distance,  dark  masses 
of  Indian  warriors,  against  whom  there  was  no  advancing,  save 
amid  the  conflict  of  arms  and  the  roaring  shouts  of  battle. 

In  addition  to  these  annoying  warriors  of  Guatemozin,  who  rose 
with  the  dawn  and  battled  in  the  moonlight,  against  all  former 
Aztec  custom,  Cortes,  and  his  captains  upon  the  different  cause- 
ways, had  to  contend  with  the  elements,  for  though  it  was  now 
far  in  June,  the  rainy  season  had  begun,  which  lasts  until  Sep- 
tember, and  the  ground  under  their  feet  was  flooded,  and  their 
marches  were  with  a  heavy  plashing  through  ponds  and  mire, 
while  the  pelting  storms  by  day  drenched  them,  and  the  chilling 
night  winds  swept  over  their  unsheltered  heads,  with  a  shivering 
sigh,  as  they  stood  cold  and  cheerless  on  the  causeways,  or  slum- 
bered in  the  open  air  upon  their  arms,  for  often  would  they  be 
hastily  aroused  by  the  vigilant  Guatemozin  bursting  in  upon 
them  at  the  dead  hour  of  midnight  with  his  dark  legions,  rush- 
ing upon  the  stiff  and  wounded  besiegers,  whose  daily  attacks 
upon  the  outskirts  of  the  city  cost  them  many  a  life. 

But  the  walls  of  stone,  which  the  Aztec  chief  would  rear,  like 
magic,  in  a  night,  across  the  path  of  Cortes,  the  beating  rains, 
and  aguish  winds,  the  night  saUies  of  the  natives,  and  the  stiff 
wounds  of  his  followers,  turned  not  the  steady  purposes  of  Her- 
nando Cortes. 

Along  his  way  of  march  he  began  to  rear  a  line  of  barracks, 
which  being  built,  shielded  the  troops  from  the  inclemency  of  tho 
weather,  and  sheltered  them  from  the  sharp  showers  of  arrows 
which  hurtled  through  the  night  air. 


THE    CAVALIERS   OF    THE    CROSS.  301 

His  work  of  demolition  progressed  day  after  day — his  cannon 
would  be  planted  before  the  face  of  some  proud  and  ancient  pile, 
and  while  the  smaller  ordnance  swept  the  natives  from  the  streets, 
walls  of  stone  came  thundering  down,  and  from  the  fallen  ruins 
Cortes  had  the  stone  carried  to  fill  up  the  breaches  of  the  cause- 
way behind  him ;  and  while  the  commander,  thus  moving  by  lake 
and  by  land  was  penetrating  the  capital,  from  the  side  towards 
Iztapalapan,  Alvarado  and  Sandoval,  on  the  other  causeways, 
were  progressing  towards  the  heart  of  the  city  with  as  much 
speed  as  the  multitude  of  obstacles  in  their  way,  and  the  obsti- 
nate resistance  of  the  natives,  would  admit. 

«  %  *  *  *  te  * 

It  was  in  the  palace  of  the  Aztec  king,  Guatemozin,  that  a 
party  were  seated  by  night.  Upon  the  elegantly  painted  and  or- 
namented walls  fell  the  blaze  of  a  hundred  flambeaux,  whose 
burning  wood,  saturated  with  gums,  filled  the  apartment  with  a 
soft,  sweet  odor.  Beside  the  emperor  sat  his  own  beautiful  bride, 
peerless  in  her  pale  beauty,  as  the  southern  moon  moving  through 
the  sky  in  a  robe  of  clouds.  Guatemozin  gazed  upon  her  with  a 
look  of  love  and  pride  ;  and  the  imperial  beauty,  majestic  in  her 
queenliness,  sitting  upon  the  same  cushion,  returned  that  look 
with  the  loftiness  of  an  empress,  and  a  face  beaming  with  the 
fondest  affection. 

Close  by  them  sat  another  couple,  the  Toltec,  and  a  creature 
whose  heavenly  beauty,  lighted  by  the  happiness  of  the  hour,  won 
every  heart  around  her,  but  chiefly  his  to  whom  she  addressed 
herself. 

"  Ah  !  Malmiztic,  I  am  too  happy ;  I  have  not  deserved  of 
heaven  so  great  a  joy  as  this.  The  brightest-eyed  hope  which 
hath  ever  pictured  the  future  of  earth  to  me,  hath  never  told  of 
bliss  like  this.  Through  the  darkest  skies  of  our  being,  bright 
rays  stream  down  from  heaven  upon  the  heart  of  faith ;  and  faith, 
Malmiztic,  told  me  that  we  should  not  be  parted  forever.  Mal- 
miztic, didst  thou  not  pray  for  me  ?  I  did  for  thee,  and  I  felt 
that  the  prayer  which  I  whispered  in  the  ear  of  heaven,  would 
be  borne  by  some  young,  bright-eyed  angel,  and  breathed  again 
in  thine,  and  was  happy  in  my  wretchedness  to  know  that  thy 
God  and  mine  could  see  us  both  at  a  glance,  though  one  were  on 


302  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

earth  and  the  other  in  heaven ;  and  I  felt  that  though  thou  shouldst 
have  been  lost  in  the  maze  of  untraversed  worlds,  I  should  have 
found  thee,  for  my  own  soul  had  caught  a  spark  of  that  God's 
pwn  essence,  whose  whole  being  is  love,  and  this  should  have 
lighted  me  on — this  spark,  this  lamp,  guiding  me  on  through  the 
dark  wilderness  of  worlds,  and  illuminating  voids  upon  the  verge 
of  creation — lending  brightness  to  my  soul's  eyes,  so  that  I 
should  have  known  thee^  in  the  land  of  shadows,  though  around 
thy  form  multitudinous  beings  congregated,  and  mingled  thick  as 
the  motes  which  float  in  the  sunbeams." 

"  Tecalco,"  returned  the  Toltec,  "if  I  have  known  days  of 
despondency  upon  earth,  this  hour  repays  for  all." 

**  Malmiztic,"  said  Guatemozin,  interrupting  -him,*  "  Tecalco 
has  spoken  to  me  of  the  peril  from  which  thou  didst  rescue  her; 
she  has  told  me  the  deep,  wild  love  she  bears  thee,  and  now  I 
feel,  as  her  nearest  friend,  that  I  must  likewise  speak.  Our  em- 
pire is  beset  by  enemies — invasion  is  intruding  upon  us,  and 
rebellion  is  rife  throughout  the  realm.  It  is  time  to  arouse,  and 
nerve  ourselves  for  the  great  blow.  Mexico  must  either  fall  or  be 
free  !  I  speak  for  my  country,  and  not  as  the  king.  We  need 
courage  and  wisdom  to  meet  this  sharp  emergency.  There  is  but 
one  man  in  Mexico  upon  whom  I  can  depend — that  man  is  Mal- 
miztic. Mines  are  being  dug  under  the  foundations  of  this  king- 
dom ;  let  the  enemy  quietly  work  on,  and  we  shall  behold  the 
giant  palaces  of  our  greatness  totter,  their  walls  crumble  to  ruins, 
and  sink,  a  nameless  wreck,  upon  their  sites.  I  have  but  one  aim 
in  existence,  and  that  aim  is  to  restore  the  independence  of  our 
ancient  realm.  I  am  ready  to  meet  the  storm  in  its  rage,  and  to 
combat  for  freedom  with  the  foe,  whilst  an  Aztec  can  be  found  to 
draw  a  bow  or  wield  a  maquahuitl.  Let  their  great  guns  roar, 
their  sharp  swords  ring  until  the  air  echoes  with  the  sound  ;  let 
their  proud  fleet  float  upon  the  lake,  and  their  banner  of  the  cross 
blaze  in  the  morning  light ;  their  sulphurous  smoke  dim  the  broad 
sun  at  noontide — I  will  not  yield  or  falter,  though  fire  flourish  its 
red  torch  over  our  homes,  and  famine  feed  upon  our  frames ;  yea, 
though  the  blessed  water  fail  us,  my  tongue  shall  parch,  wither, 
and  cleave  to  my  mouth,  ere  it  shall  say  welcome  to  the  foe  ! 
And  now  hear  me  !  thou  must  support  me  through  this  trying 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  '•     503 

hour.  Thy  valor  and  judgmeiit  must  bear  up  mine,  and  even  if 
I  fall,  stand  thou  still  faithful  for  my  native  land,  till  not  a  Span- 
ish foot  treads  on  its  soil,  or  not  an  Aztec  lives  to  fight  in  its 
defence  !  When  our  gods  fail,  Malmiztic,  call  on  thine. '  Shriek 
right  and  justice  in  the  ear  of  heaven,  and  cease  not  till  the  very 
deities  be  moved  by  sympathy,  for  those  who  leave  their  corses 
at  the  feet  of  advancing  aggression.  Listen  to  me,  Malmiztic  ! 
thou  art  all  a  man  should  be,  wise,  pure  and  patriotic — bold  as 
the  bald-crowned  eagle  of  the  hills,  afid  in  the  confidence  of  tny 
virtue  and  thy  God,  a  thunderbolt  in  battle  !  Tecalco  loves  thee, 
the  child  of  Montezuma  sees  thy  godlike  qualities,  and  worships 
them.  Now  hear  me,  I  am  her  protector,  in  virtue,  her  brother, 
but  until  thou- hast.^ said  that  thou  wilt  hold  out  with  me  to  the 
last  hour,  she  never  shall  be  thine !" 

*'  Nay !"  cried  Tecalco,  pale  as  a  water-lily,  "  forbear  to 
bind  him  thus,  proud  Guatemozin ;  wouldst  thou  break  my 
heart  V 

V  Peace  !'*  said  the  Toltec,  calmly,  "  the  promise  goes  not  hard 
with  me — my  heart  is  in  the  cause,  and  happier  thrice  shall  I 
feel  when  I  have  helped  to  stay  the  falling  structure  of  our  an- 
cient throne." 

*'Ay  !"  cried  Guatemozin,  eagerly,  "  thou  shalt  sit  beside  our- 
selves, and  smile  to  see  our  empire  free  as  air !  Gods  !  what  a 
joy,  once  more  to  see  the  dove  of  peace  build  its  soft  nest  upon 
our  fathers'  roofs,  and  then,  Malmiztic,  shall  thy  hands  be  joined 
forever,  and  feasts  shall  be  given  thee  that  would  be  a  banquet 
for  the  gods !  strains  of  rich  music  shall  swell  around  thee  in 
splendid  palaces,  and  gems  shall  glitter  in  thy  coronet ;  and 
brighter  than  them  all  shall  shine  the  green-leaved  garland  which 
wreathes  the  hero's  brow,  who  has  4ared  the  red  lightning  of  the 
storm  of  fate,  and  fought  till  peace  and  sunshine  settled  on  his 
head !" 

"  Trust  me  to  act  for  thee  and  thine,"  said  the  Toltec,  "as  time 
and  power  are  given  to  me." 

At  this  moment,  messengers  were  announced  from  Cortes,  de- 
manding a  cessation  of  hostilities  and  a  surrender  of  the  city. 
The  dark  eyes  of  Guatemozin  flashed  fire  as  the  proposal  was 
made  to  him. 


304  THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS. 

"Return!"  replied  he,  "to  your  Christian  commander,  and  ask 
him  if  he  thinks  another  Montezuma  reigns  in  Mexico?" 

The  tone  and  manner  of  the  noble  Aztec  were  unmistakable — 
the  deputation  departed. 

**  Thus,"  said  Guatemozin,  firmly,  as  he  paced  back  and  forth 
in  the  palace  hall,  "do  I  repel  their  hollow  oflferings  of  peace,  and 
plant  myself  beside  the  banner  of  the  golden  eagle  and  the 
cactus !" 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


Alvarado  had  entered  the  city  upon  the  causeway  from  Ta- 
cuba,  and  gradually  advanced  without  having  any  communica- 
tion with  his  general ;  his  sallies  were  bold  and  rapid,  but  they 
were  met  by  the  most  obstinate  and  fearless  opposition,  and  daily 
were  high  and  chivalric  feats  of  single  opponents  observed  in  the 
streets,  or  upon  the  causeways,  as  the  nobility  of  Mexico  would 
issue  forth  to  meet  the  fierce  Castilians.  And  the  whole  troop  of 
Alvarado's  men  were  daily  astonished  by  the  sudden  appearance 
of  a  mysterious-looking  man  in  a  black  mask,  who,  with  the  most 
hardy  temerity,  advanced  rapidly  up  to  the  very  tents  of  the 
camp,  and  hurling  a  stone  from  a  sling  into  the  midst  of  the  cava- 
liers, would  return  to  the  Aztec  multitude.  Vexed  and  enraged 
by  this  bold  intruder,  Alvarado  sent  a  challenge,  which  was  pro- 
claimed within  hearing  of  both  hostile  lines,  daring  the  mask  to 
single  combat. 

Alvarado  walked  proudly  out  in  front  of  the  ranks,  his  elegant 
and  graceful  figure  cased  in  a  complete  suit  of  steel,  which 
sparkled  and  flashed  in  the  sunshine,  and  stood  in  a  noble  attitude 
of  defiance  before  the  whole  body  of  Mexicans.  The  opposing 
ranks  gazed  in  mute  admiration,  but  no  one  moved  in  the  lines 
of  Mexico  to  meet  the  champion  of  the  Christian  camp,  who,  see- 
ing that  he  was  not  to  be  opposed,  turned  scornfully,  and  began 
to  return  to  his  companions,  when  suddenly  a  commotion  in  the 
crowd  caused  him  to  halt,  and  looking  back,  he  beheld  coming 
out  in  front  of  the  Aztec  multitude  the  figure  of  the  mask,  clad 
from  top  to  toe  in  a  complete  sheathing  of  copper  armor,  whose 
red  surface  was  polished  until  it  glittered  brilliantly  in  the  sun- 
shine. 

Like  the  Spaniard,  he  carried  sword  and  shield,  and  in  a  few 
moments  they  stood  face  to  face,  silently  surveying  each  other 
26  (306) 


306  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  J    AND 

from  foot  to  head,  and  measuring,  as  it  were,  the  might  of  the 
antagonist  before  engaging  with  him  in  conflict. 

"Who  art  thou,"  said  the  Spaniard,  "that  darest  presume  to 
meet  Don  Pedro  de  Alvarado  ? — a  true  knight  of  Santiago  and 
Castile ! — a  Christian  defender  of  the  Cross  of  Christ  and  the 
holy  sepulchre  of  Jerusalem  !" 

"  I  am  one,"  answered  tlie  mask,  "who  comes  to  prove  thee  a 
false-hearted  coward,  a  villain,  who  grossly  wronged  and  insulted 
an  unprotected  woman  ! — and  she,  the  noblest  scion  of  our  impe- 
rial tree  of  kings,  sends  me  to  visit  vengeance  on  thy  craven 
head,  and  force  shame  into  thy  hollow  heart !" 

"Thou  brazen,  copper-clad  infidel!"  said  Alvarado,  with  his 
voice  almost  choking  with  rage;  "thou  insolent,  presumptuous 
pagan !  wert  thou  the  commander  of  Malta,  I'd  make  thee  an- 
swer for  those  words,  and  dash  thee  into  the  dust  in  spite  of  the 
devil,  who  is  leagued  with  thee.  So,  Santiago  !  and  beware !" 
cried  Alvarado,  as,  with  his  sword  flashing  over  his  head,  he 
rushed  upon  his  opponent. 

"Tecalco,  and  a  woman's  wrongs  !"  cried  a  voice  of  thunder, 
as  the  heavy  ^^rm  of  the  copper-cased  mask  stepped  boldly  on- 
ward to  meet  the  Spaniard,  bearing  a  blade  whose  lustre  at  once 
betrayed  that  the  masked  man  was  Malmiztic. 

Down  came  the  blue  Toledo  of  the  knight  towards  the  Toltec's 
head  ;  instantly  a  broad  shield  of  copper  threw  the  blow  aside  ; 
but,  quick  as  the  flash  from  the  storm  cloud,  the  weapon  of  the 
Spaniard  again  descended,  and  once  more,  like  the  rod  which 
bears  the  lightning  off"  harmless,  the  shield  of  Malmiztic  caught 
the  blow,  and  turned  the  blade  aside.  And  now,  the  Toltec, 
bringing  his  blazing  sword  through  the  air,  like  a  line  of  light, 
dealt  a  blow  upon  the  helmet  of  Alvarado  that  made  the  steel 
casque  ring  again ;  and  now,  swift  as  the  wings  of  an  eagle,  right 
and  left,  came  the  strokes  upon  the  Spaniard's  head  thick  and 
heavy,  while  his  own  blows  were  deftly  whirled  aside,  and  a 
fresh  shower  would  fall  with  a  deafening  noise  upon  his  burnished 
head-piece. 

So  rapid  and  severe  came  the  storm  of  blows,  that  Alvarado 
was  stunned  by  the  ringing  shock,  and  reeling  under  their  force, 
sank  confused  and  overpowered. 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  307 

Upon  beholding  their  captain  at  the  mercy  of  his  enemy,  fifty 
of  the  Spaniards  sprang  forward  to  rescue  him,  and  Malmiztic 
fell  back  towards  the  Aztec  lines.  Suddenly  Alvarado,  recover- 
ing himself,  rose,  and  shouting  to  his  soldiers,  charged  upon  the 
foe,  who  fled  precipitately.  The  Spaniards  pressed  hard  upon 
them,  chasing  the  whole  troop  along  the  causeway,  many  parts 
of  which  were  broken  up  and  torn  to  pieces,  and  the  sluices  made 
thereby,  filled  with  reeds  and  other  light  stuff.  Alvarado  pursued 
the  party  until  he  had  almost  gained  the  great  market-place,  when, 
sudden  as  a  storm-gust,  the  enemy  whirled  about,  and  a  new  host, 
under  cover  of  an  ambuscade,  burst  forth  upon  the  Christians 
with  terrific  force. 

Utter  rout  ensued,  and  Alvarado,  overwhelmed  with  confusion 
at  the  suddenness  of  the  shock,  found  it  impossible  to  issue  orders 
which  could  be  heard  in  the  midst  of  the  wild  fray.  Finding 
resistance  futile,  he  fled,  followed  by  such  as  could  escape ;  but 
the  enemy  were  hard  upon  them,  and  despite  the  most  desperate 
efforts,  many,  sinking  under  the  opposition  of  vast  numbers,  were 
overpowered  and  captured,  or  fell  furiously  fighting  to  extricate 
themselves  from  this  most  terrible  ambuscade. 

With  these  captive  Christians,  the  Aztecs,  after  chasing  the  foe 
entirely  back  to  their  quarters,  marched  in  triumph  to  the  great 
temple — and  many  a  noble  "*arrior  of  Castile  paid  the  death 
penalty  for  the  rash  haste  of  alvarado. 

When  Cortes  heard  of  this  disaster,  his  wrath  was  unbounded  ; 
but,  knowing  that  it  was  too  late  to  remedy  the  evil,  he  relented, 
after  having  reprimanded  Alvarado,  whose  quarters  he  reached 
with  an  infinite  deal  of  hardship. 

At  this  time,  certain  of  the  Xochimilcas  and  other  allies  entered, 
into  a  treasonable  trick  with  Cortes,  by  which  they  were  to  rob 
the  houses  of  the  Aztecs,  and  kidnap  the  women,  and  especially 
to  capture  Tecalco,  the  beautiful  daughter  of  Montezuma. 

When  these  things  were  settled,  the  Xochimilcas  came  to  the 
Aztecs,  and  perfidiously  persuaded  them  that  they  were  friends, 
and  under  these  false  pretences  moved  many  days  among  them. 
At  length,  an  opportunity  offering,  the  traitors  fell  suddenly  upon 
the  richest  furnished  palaces,  from  which  Cortes  had  charged 
them  to  bring  all  the  gold  and  females. 


308  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    A-ND 

In  one  of  the  royal  edifices,  Tecalco  was  quietly  employed  in 
the  midst  of  her  maids,  in  embroidering  a  beautiful  mantle  for 
Malmiztic,  when  suddenly  a  Xochimilca  entered  and  bade  her  fly 
at  once  with  him  to  Guatemozin,  at  the  farther  extremity  of  the 
city.  The  princess,  without  hesitation,  instantly  rushed  after  the 
stranger,  when  suddenly  in  the  palace  court  without,  a  crowd  of 
the  treacherous  party  seized  upon  her,  and  bore  her  swiftly  away 
towards  the  camp  of  Cortes  ;  but  in  their  flight  they  were  met  by 
Guatemo?"  1,  who  having  heard  of  their  perfidy,  hastened  to 
punish  the  deceitful  knaves.  Sharply  he  fell  upon  them,  laden  as 
they  were  with  their  booty,  and  bearing  off  the  beautiful  daughters 
of  the  noblest  Mexicans,  and  in  a  brief  space  their  ill-gotten  gold 
strewed  the  streets,  and  man  after  man  fell,  pierced  by  the  Aztec 
lances,  until  a  line  of  corses  lay  stretched  along  the  highway, 
almost  to  the  Christian  camp.  Still  the  fugitives  fell,  and  Guate- 
mozin pursued.  The  few  who  remained,  among  whom  was  the 
one  who  bore  Tecalco,  were  becoming  exhausted  from  their  flight, 
when  a  party  of  cavaliers  came  galloping  forth,  headed  by  Cortes, 
who  seeing  the  fair  prize,  snatched  her  from  her  captor,  and 
wheeling  his  steed  towards  the  camp,  spurred  back  at  speed,  and 
called  upon  his  cavaliers  to  return.  The  horsemen  followed  their 
leader,  and  the  traitorous  Xochimilca  was  left  helpless.  He 
turned  his  head  and  beheld  that  all  his  companions  bit  the  dust 
behind  him,  while  the  terrible  Aztecs  were  coming  upon  him  with 
frightful  rapidity.  In  vain  he  called  upon  the  Christians  ;  his 
screams  were  unheard  ;  he  shouted,  but  th^  7  were  deaf,  and 
nearer  ever)  moment  came  the  rushing  sound  of  the  Aztec  feet, 
until  turning  his  face  again  towards  his  pursuers,  a  lance  pierced 
him  between  the  shoulders,  and  he  fell.  In  an  instant  a  hundred 
weapons  bristled  over  him,  and  he  was  a  mangled  and  lifeless 
mass  of  clay.  But  Cortes  upon  his  steed,  with  his  prize  and 
companions,  reached  their  quarters  in  safety. 

Although  Guatemozin  had  visited  so  fearful  a  retribution  upon 
the  Xochimilcas,  that  not  one  of  them  escaped,  yet  the  loss  of 
Tecalco  overbalanced  all  the  satisfaction  of  having  punished  the 
perfidy  of  the  traitors. 

When  this  news  was  borne  to  Malmiztic,  his  usual  strength 
failed  him.     Heart-sickness  came  upon  him,  and  then  a  burning 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  309 

fever.  His  faithful  dwarf,  who  had  become  an  inmate  of  Guate- 
mozin's  palace,  procured  Malmiztic's  black  boat,  and  mooring  her 
under  the  window,  in  the  canal,  hard  by  the  place  where  his 
master  lay,  he  persuaded  the  Toltec  to  enter  the  boat,  and  the 
latter,  wild  from  fever,  followed  the  will  of  the  dwarf. 

The  moon  was  in  the  sky,  smiling  at  her  image  in  the  quiet 
lake,  and  the  keen  bow  cleft  the  blue  water.  The  prow  touched 
the  farther  shore,  and  the  fair  dwarf  leads  his  master,  like  a  blind 
man,  to  his  beautiful  grotto  upon  the  hill  of  Tezcozinco.  Hard 
by,  Malmiztic  has  a  palace,  a  proud  pile,  but  in  the  cool  recesses 
of  his  favorite  cavern,  the  loving  dwarf  smooths  the  pillow 
under  the  head  of  the  Toltec,  which  burns  with  a  raging,  fiery 
fever. 

Twenty  suns  shine  morn  after  morn  over  the  eastern  mountain, 
but  twenty  days  of  darkness  and  delirium  have  clouded  up  the 
mind  of  Malmiztic.  Night  and  day  are  alike  black ;  the  gloom 
of  chaos  shrouds  everything ;  the  dark  waters  of  Lethe  flood  the 
soul,  and  not  one  faint  ray  of  reason's  light  beams  on  the  black 
void. 

Malmiztic  lies  in  the  cave,  but  for  twenty  days,  Cortes  and  his 
captains  storm  the  city.  Dim  clouds  of  smoke  envelope  the 
capital.  Mighty  walls  come  thundering  down,  with  a  cloud  of 
dust,  and  the  roar  of  warfare  begins  with  the  dawn  and  dies  with 
the  day. 

It  is  now  settled,  that  a  general  assault  shall  be  made  on  all 
sides  of  the  metropolis  simultaneously,  and  that  the  whole  Span- 
ish forces  and  allies  must  be  united.  They  move  forward  towards 
the  centre  of  the  city — Sandoval,  Alvarado  and  Cortes,  each  upon 
their  different  quarters  of  the  town.  Moving  onward,  they  de- 
molish houses  of  every  character  before  them,  and  in  their  rear 
lie  heaps  of  smoking  ruins,  and  walls  blackened  with  powder  and 
blood.  As  they  advanced,  the  horn  of  Guatemozin  was  heard 
from  the  temple,  and  even  the  thousands  of  priests  came  pouring 
forth  to  meet  the  mighty  enemy.  At  the  sound  of  that  fearful 
horn,  host  upon  host  appeared,  as  if  rising  from  the  very  earth. 
Upon  each  of  the  captains  streamed  out  a  torrent  of  Aztec  war- 
riors, and  the  conflict  was  fierce  in  every  direction. 

Cortes  was  never  more  active  :  he  headed  his  cavaliers,  and 


310  MALMIZTIC,    THE   TOLTEC ;   AND 

forced  his  way  down  the  principal  street.  Upon  either  hand  rose 
the  stately  palaces,  looming  up  in  architectural  beauty,  but  bat- 
tered and  broken  by  the  repeated  storming  of  the  foe.  From  the 
terraces  and  parapets  the  Mexicans,  as  usual,  rained  their  mis- 
siles upon  the  Christians  and  their  comrades,  while  in  the  great 
streets  before  the  stout  Spaniard,  the  mottled  myriads  of  Mexico, 
with  their  many-colored  banners,  crowded  on  to  meet  him,  with 
Bounding  horns  and  shells,  deafening  drums  and  shouts  which 
shook  the  very  air. 

Guatemozin  led  the  van,  and  with  his  clarion  voice  he  cried, 
"Aztecs  !  strike  for  your  honor  and  your  home  !'* 
Up  from  the  Christian  ranks  rang  the  counter-cry, 
**  God  and  St.  James  !"  and  instantly  the  combatants  clashed 
their  weapons  in  close  conflict.     Right  into  each  other's  ranks  they 
rushed,  and  in  a  moment  the  golden  eagle  standard  of  Tenoch- 
titlan   fluttered  side   by  side  with  the   gorgeous  banner  of  the 
cross. 

**  Now  Christians !"  shouted  Cortes,  "for  the  glory  of  old  Cas- 
tile !"  and  at  that  cry  a  tenfold  vigor  seemed  to  fill  each  knightly 
arm,  and  the  commander,  like  the  embodied  spirit  of  chivalry, 
bestriding  a  powerful  steed,  waved  his  bright  sword  in  the  sun, 
and  dashed  at  the  dusky  host.  Momentarily  the  living  wave 
rolled  back  before  the  Christian  steel,  but  fought  as  they  ^-e- 
treated.  Suddenly  they  halted  near  the  great  temple,  and  main- 
tained their  ground  firmly.  At  this  moment  an  unearthly  yell 
was  heard  from  the  top  of  the  temple,  and  Cortes  and  his  com- 
panions were  struck  dumb  with  horror  to  behold,  upon  the  height 
above,  the  ghastly  heads  and  trunks  of  their  fellow- Christians, 
exhibited,  white  and  terrible,  before  their  eyes. 

The  stoutest  of  the  veterans  shuddered  and  sickened  at  the 


"  Behold,  Sandoval  !'*  shrieked  the  high  priest,  and  an  audible 
groan  arose  from  the  Spanish  ranks. 

"Behold  Alvarado's  head  !"  again  shouted  the  priest,  and  a 
loud  voice  of  wailing  burst  from  the  lips  of  every  cavalier. 

"  On,  Aztecs,  on  !"  cried  the  clear,  clarion  throated  Guatemo- 
zin. And  like  a  loosened  avalanche  upon  the  steep  side  of  Po- 
pocatepetl, the  whole  mass  of  the  countless  Mexicans  dashed 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  311 

upon  the  Christians  and  their  dusky  confederates,  and  swept 
them  back  as  the  mountain-torrent  sweeps  away  the  loose  leaves 
of  the  forest.  Up  rose  a  shout  of  triumph  from  the  red  ranks, 
and  the  overwhelmed  Christians  recoiled  with  haste  and  dismay, 
while  their  associates,  the  Tlascalans,  and  other  natives,  fled 
howling  with  terror  from  the  tremendous  charge  of  Guatemozin, 
and  his  fiery  host,  who  slaughtered  them  with  fearful  carnage,  as 
they  fled. 

In  vain  the  Christians  turned,  time  and  again,  to  stay  the  tide 
of  destruction,  but  the  storm  of  missiles  flew  in  their  faces, 
almost  bhnding  them  in  a  moment,  and  they  were  forced  swiftly 
away  before  the  resistless  legions,  who  came  flying  upon  them  in 
dark  masses  of  thousands,  with  cries  and  shouts,  which  raised  a 
din  of  dreadful  and  unearthly  sounds. 

The  bright  banners  of  the  allies  of  Cortes,  and  their  hundreds 
of  ensigns,  were  strewn  and  scattered  among  the  dead  and 
wounded,  who  strewed  the  whole  earth  for  squares. 

It  was  a  frightful  scene  to  see  the  ferocious  priests,  who  had 
poured  forth  from  the  temple  by  thousands,  rush,  with  wild  hair 
matted  with  blood  and  streaming  down  their  backs,  hotly  upon 
the  main  body  of  the  foe,  fierce  and. hungry  for  blood. 

At  length  the  allies  made  precipitate  flight,  without  a  show  of 
resistance,  and  the  Christians  were  left  to  stand  the  terrific  storm, 
which  seemed  to  grow  more  and  more  disastrous. 

At  this  dreadful  crisis,  Cortes,  finding  opposition  futile,  gave 
orders  for  a  hasty  retreat.  Accordingly  they  fled  in  disorder, 
until  they  came  to  the  canal  in  the  causeway,  which  had  been 
filled  up  with  reeds  and  wood  which  had  floated  away.  Thou- 
sands rushed  into  the  water  and  gained  the  opposite  bank,  while 
hundreds  were  cut  down  by  the  foe  who  pressed  behind,  and 
many  sunk  in  the  water  from  the  mass  who  crowded  upon 
them. 

The  Christians  fell  back  from  the  enemy,  but  Cortes  was  the 
last  to  retire  ;  he,  upon  his  steed,  struck  right  and  left  with  his 
sharp  sword  upon  the  heads  of  the  mad  Aztecs,  who,  knowing 
him,  clung  to  his  legs  and  his  saddle-skirts,  and  made  the  most 
strenuous  efforts  to  drag  him  from  his  seat. 


312  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

Hundreds  of  black  heads  swarmed  around  him ;  countless 
hands  stretched  forth  to  seize  him,  while  blows  rang  incessantly, 
from  spears  and  maquahuitls,  upon  his  coat  of  mail.  At 
length  a  giant  Aztec  struck  down  his  gallant  horse,  who  fell 
with  his  noble  rider  upon  the  verge  of  the  sluice  in  the  cause- 
way. Cortes  quickly  disengaged  himself,  for  he  beheld  the 
same  powerful  Aztec,  with  a  Spanish  sword  in  his  hand,  rush- 
ing upon  him.  Instantly  Cortes  leaped  into  the  water  with  a 
tremendous  bound,  but  the  fierce  foe,  like  a  tiger,  sprang  after 
him,  and  seized  the  weaponless  Cortes  (whose  helmet  was  broken 
oflF  by  the  fall)  with  his  left  hand.  He  drew  back  the  right  arm 
to  its  full  sweep  to  cleave  with  his  sword  the  very  skull  of  the 
Christian  in  twain,  when  down  came  upon  the  outstretched  arm 
a  lightning  blow  from  a  trusty  blade,  which  severed  the  giant's 
arm  like  a  clipped  water-flag  !  It  was  young  Francisco  de  Olea, 
who  had  worked  his  way  through  the  water  to  his  general's  aid  ; 
but  scarce  had  he  wrought  his  commander's  deliverance,  when  a 
dozen  fierce  Aztecs  set  upon  him,  and  in  spite  of  stout  and  des- 
perate defence,  the  young  hero,  overpowered,  sank  in  the  stream 
pierced  by  a  dozen  lances ! 

But  Cortes  had  scarce  reached  the  other  shore,  when  an  Aztec 
seized  him,  and  was  bearing  him  ofiF  to  the  boats ;  but  a  daring 
cavalier  darted  back  to  his  aid,  and  with  a  well-aimed  blow  of 
his  spear  struck  the  foeman  a  fatal  blow  in  the  throat,  and  laid 
him  upon  the  earth  a  corse ! 

At  this  instant,  a  horse  arrived,  which  Cortes  with  difliculty 
mounted  (as  he  was  wounded  in  the  leg),  and  fled  to  his  com- 
panions. In  their  retreat  to  the  camp,  heads  of  Christians 
were  thrown  out  before  them  into  the  highway  !  at  which  hor- 
rible sight  their  blood  ran  cold,  and  the  appalling  vision  shook 
them  like  an  ague  even  when  they  had  reached  quarters  of 
safety. 

And  thus  perished,  in  a  single  day,  sixty  tried  veterans  of  old 
Castile,  and  a  full  thousand  of  their  allies ! 

The  discomfited  Cortes,  shortly  after,  retired  to  the  main-land 
with  his  tropps,  while  a  grand  illumination  and  display  of  bon- 
fires blazed  for  eight  days  in  the  great  city,  in  honor  of  the 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  SI 3 

triumphant  victory ;  and  despite  the  efforts  of  Guatemozin,  the 
high  priest  and  his  associates  made  a  horrible  sacrifice  of  the 
unfortunate  captives  who  fell  into  their  hands,  and  the  populace 
paraded  through  the  streets  of  the  capital  with  wild  martial  music 
and  songs  of  exultation  for  many  days  together. 

Thus,  even  in  the  midst  of  misfortune,  does  one  brilliant  stroke 
of  success  give  greater  joy  than  countless  victories,  even  as  a 
gleam  of  sunshine  through  a  stormy  sky  seems  brighter  than  a 
cloudless  noon. 


27 


CHAPTER  XXXII 


Although  baffled  by  reverses,  Cortes  did  not  give  up  the  hope 
of  conquest ;  like  a  new  Sisyphus  rolling  the  stone  up  the  moun- 
tain, he  quailed  not,  though  it  recoiled  upon  him  ever  as  he 
reached  the  summit — for  restless  ambition  spurred  him  on,  and, 
above  all,  the  glittering  vision  of  gold  floated  before  his  mind,  a 
splendid  pageant  of  gilded  magnificence — yet  were  the  unsunned 
and  untold  treasures  of  the  new  land  of  the  west  to  open  upon 
him  in  all  their  gorgeous  sheen — yet  did  he  hope  to  dazzle  the 
eyes  of  European  kings  with  wealth  which  would  make  princes 
seem  paupers.  Before  him  stood  the  dark  towers  of  Mexico, 
gloomy  and  blackened  from  his  protracted  storm,  and  deep  in 
their  hidden  vaults  his  eye  could  see  the  precious  masses,  gleam- 
ing in  their  shadowed  lustre,  and  daring  him  to  snatch  them  from 
their  sable  security. 

Additional  power  now  added  vigor  to  his  purpose  ;  one  Rangel 
arrived  from  Villa  Rica,  with  soldiers,  ordnance,  and  stores,  and 
especially  powder,  of  which  the  Christian  camp  had  run  short ; 
and  with  this  assistance,  the  credulous  soldiery  could  see  the 
helping  hand  of  heaven  grasping  the  standard  of  the  Cross,  and 
pointing  to  the  proud  palaces  of  the  heathen  city,  and  every  heart 
yearned  to  return  to  the  olive-clad  vales  of  Spain,  and  tell  how 
they  had  stormed  and  thundered  upon  the  vast  pagan  metropolis, 
and  planted  the  blazing  banner  of  old  Castile  upon  the  highest 
turret  of  the  Aztec  towers. 

They  had  thrown  their  toils  around  the  foe,  and  enclosed  him 
like  a  caged  lion,  and  day  by  day  hunger  gnawed  upon  him,  for 
they  had  long  since  cut  off  all  supplies,  destroyed  the  aqueduct, 
and  guarded  the  whole  lake,  that  neither  water  nor  provision 
could  come  from  the  main-land. 

The  famishing  Aztecs  dragged  their  nets  through  the  waters 
(314) 


THE    CAVALIERS   OF  THE   CROSS.  316 

of  the  briny  lake  for  fish  ;  they  pulled  the  slimy  weeds  from  the 
shore  and  devoured  them  ;  and  like  a  cloud  of  starving  locusts, 
they  fell  upon  every  green  plant  upon  the  land  which  might  be 
eaten. 

The  wise  Guatemozin  sank  wells  in  all  parts  of  the  city,  and 
although  water  was  found,  it  was  brackish  and  bitter,  and  those 
who  partook  of  it  were  taken  sick,  for  it  did  but  poorly  supply 
the  stead  of  the  pure  fountains  of  Chapoltepec. 

Week  rolled  by  after  week,  and  gaunt  starvation,  with  his 
glassy  eyes,  began  to  gaze  in  at  the  windows  of  cottage  and 
palace.  The  rich  and  the  noble,  by  the  command  of  the  empe- 
ror, opened  their  granaries  and  storehouses,  but  the  famished 
multitude  swallowed  up  the  stores  in  a  brief  space  of  time. 

And  now  a  new  horror  raised  its  hydra  heads  all  over  the  city. 
Pestilence,  frightful  as  the  plague,  burst  forth  in  every  quarter 
among  the  famishing  wretches,  whom  hunger  had  weakened,  and 
despair  rendered  hopeless. 

Again  Cortes  sent,  to  Guatemozin  to  bid  the  city  capitulate,  but 
the  firm  and  patriotic  emperor  returned  him  answer,  that  sooner 
would  he  see  his  subjects  corses  than  slaves,  and  once  more  the 
indomitable  Christian  led  his  men  and  allies  against  the  capital, 
and  began  to  tear  down  all  the  houses,  and  fill  up  all  the  canals 
in  the  causeways  level,  with  stones,  while  bands  of  his  troops,  with 
pickaxes,  demolished  the  walls,  and  with  brands  and  torches  fired 
every  building  before  them  ;  while  with  the  same  work  of  ruin, 
Sandoval  and  Alvarado  urged  their  way  towards  the  centre  of 
the  city. 

Clouds  of  black  smoke  enveloped  the  city  all  day,  and  by  night 
the  crimson  glow  of  a  thousand  flames  glared  over  the  tops  of 
the  towers  which  lay  in  the  pathway  of  the  besiegers. 

High  upon  a  temple  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  stood  Hernando 
Cortes,  his  soul  elate  with  success,  for  beneath  him  were  his  own 
men,  battering  to  the  level  earth  the  beautiful  palaces  which  had 
been  the  pride  and  strength  of  the  Aztecs  ;  and  far  in  the  distance 
he  could  behold  Sandoval  and  Alvarado,  from  whom  he  had  been 
so  long  separated,  coming  on  with  their  deadly  work  of  demoli- 
tion, like  two  angels  of  destruction,  with  fierce  and  terrible  pro- 
gress.    And  hard  by,  in  a  broad  street,  he  beheld  a  legion  of  the 


S16  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

starving  troops  of  Mexico  coming  down  to  attack  his  men.  He 
instantly  ordered  a  soldier,  who  stood  with  him  on  the  temple's 
top,  to  descend,  and  command  the  chief  body  of  his  troops  to 
secrete  themselves  in  the  deserted  houses  at  hand.  His  orders 
were  executed  forthwith,  and  at  length,  as  the  Aztecs  approached, 
they  espied  and  recognised,  high  upon  the  temple's  top,  the 
knightly  figure  of  the  terrible  man,  who  had  scourged  them  so 
fearfully.  At  this  sight  the  hungry  legions  broke  forth  in  a  wild 
yell,  and  furiously  dashed  at  the  Christians  and  allies  who  occu- 
pied the  street.  The  charge  was  a  bold  and  desperate  one,  and 
the  Christians  were  carried  back  by  its  violence,  as  sea-birds  by 
a  tempest.  Faster  and  faster  they  retreated,  until  it  seemed  they 
were  upon  the  eve  of  disordered  flight.  And  swift  and  confident 
came  the  Aztecs,  flushed  with  success,  and  hot  for  revenge  ;  but 
as  they  passed  on  pursuing,  the  loud,  clear  voice  of  Cortes  could 
be  heard  from  his  height,  and  like  a  pent-up  hurricane,  a  throng 
of  Christians  rushed  forth  from  their  ambuscade,  behind  the 
Mexicans,  and  poured  upon  them  the  torrent  of  their  fire  from 
muskets  and  cross-bows,  while  with  sword  and  spear  they  charged 
upon  the  astonished  and  dismayed  Aztecs.  Hither  and  thither 
flew  the  dusky  warriors,  and  thick  they  fell,  before  the  impetuous 
force  of  their  foe. 

Loudly  and  constantly  did  the  excited  Cortes,  from  his  airy 
station,  shout  to  and  cheer  his  victorious  troops,  moving  along  the 
parapet,  and  clapping  his  hands  wildly,  as  the  resistless  might  of 
Castilian  arms  scattered  and  crushed  the  red  swarm  of  his  oppo- 
nents. 

All  resistance  ceased  upon  the  Mexican  side,  and  indiscriminate 
flight  followed ;  while  the  Spaniards  remained  masters  of  the 
bloody  street,  with  scarce  a  handful  of  slain  among  their  party. 

And  now,  for  long  days  and  nights,  the  voice  of  wailing  was 
heard  throughout  Tenochtitlan ;  swarms  of  hungered  and  half- 
naked  creatures  crowded  around  the  great  temple,  and  besought 
the  priests  to  pray  for  them  to  their  gods,  and  to  Guatemozin. 

Another  embassy  came  from  Cortes,  but  the  emperor  answered 
resolutely,  that  so  long  as  a  Spanish  foot  was  upon  the  pavements 
of  Mexico,  the  banner  of  the  golden  eagle  should  not  come  do\vn 
from  her  towers.     Forthwith  the  beleaguering  host  renewed  the 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  SI 7 

storm,  and  the  work  of  wreck  and  ruin  was  recommenced.  And 
now,  hollow-eyed  famine  and  decaying  pestilence,  hand  in  hand, 
stalked  day  and  night  through  the  wasted  city. 

At  last,  the  whole  myriad  of  Mexicans  rose  as  one  man,  and 
came  to  the  palace  portal  where  the  heroic  and  unyielding  Gua- 
temozin  dwelt.  Thousands  of  meagre  wretches,  with  sick  starva- 
tion in  their  pallid  faces,  besought  and  prayed  the  emperor  to 
surrender  the  city  and  save  their  lives ;  women  and  children,  on 
their  knees,  knelt  in  the  street,  and  clasping  their  emaciated 
hands,  with  tearful  eyes  and  trembling  voices,  supplicated  the 
emperor  to  capitulate. 

Guatemozin  beheld  them,  and  wept  likewise,  but  he  bade  his 
royal  officers  to  order  them  to  retire.  The  officers  came  forth 
and  spoke  to  the  multitude,  but  the  populace  would  not  listen  to 
them,  but  cried : 

**  Let  us  see  the  king  !" 

Guatemozin  came  out  upon  the  palace  portal,  and  a  groan  of 
joy  and  sorrow  burst  from  their  lips,  which  pierced  the  heart  of 
the  patriot  prince. 

"Aztecs,  brethren,  friends!"  he  began,  **your  voices  have 
called  me  forth,  and  I  must  answer.  I  gaze  upon  every  face  in 
your  host  and  it  is  pale — I  grieve  to  see  it,  but  it  is  not  Guatemo- 
zin who  has  wronged  you — it  is  the  stranger  who  has  brought 
woe  into  our  midst.  We  have  suffered  and  do  suffer  daily — 
death  and  disease  are  among  us ;  thousands  sicken  with  every 
sun  that  sets  ;  men  beg  for  bread,  and  parched  lips  pray  for 
water.  But  why  ?  Because  we  hold  out  for  our  homes  !  because 
we  have  chosen  rather  the  death  of  noble  freemen,  than  the 
chains  of  craven  slaves !  If  there  is  a  man  in  your  midst  who 
says  that  Guatemozin  should  have  given  his  mother,  his  sister, 
his  father,  or  his  city  to  the  foe,  I  blush  for  such  a  man.  If  I 
am  wrong  in  fighting  for  your  rights,  that  error  let  me  bear;  and 
may  I  have  no  prouder  epitaph  upon  my  grave  than  *  Here  lies 
Guatemozin,  who,  dying,  said,  I  will  not  yield  our  city  to  a  foe, 
till  death  pluck  from  my  skeleton  hand  the  sceptre  of  her  free- 
dom.' Men  of  Mexico,  you  know  my  will — you  have  my 
answer." 

The  mighty  multitude  stood  mute,  and  hung  their  heads.     At 


818  MALMIZTIC,  THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

this  moment,  Tecuiclipo  appeared  at  the  doorway,  her  noble  face 
sorrow  stricken  at  the  piteous  spectacle. 

"Liege  lady,"  cried  an  old  nobleman,"  we  pray  you,  speak  for 
us." 

"Ay,"  echoed  a  thousand  voices,  **  the  gods  bless  you,  great 
queen  !  but  one  word  for  our  wretched  wives  and  babes  !' ' 

The  high  heart  of  Tecuiclipo,  which  had  thus  long  held  out 
sternly,  melted  at  this  appeal,  and,  sinking  on  her  knees,  sufifused 
in  t«ars,  she  seized  the  hand  of  the  emperor,  and  with  a  tremu- 
lous voice  exclaimed : 

**  Guatemozin,  they  starve  !" 

The  large  dark  eyes  of  the  handsome  monarch  were  flooded, 
and  they  overflowed. 

**Men  of  Mexico,"  said  he,  mournfully,  "follow  your  own 
course,  and  not  mine  !" 

And  with  these  words,  he  lifted  his  queen  from  her  knees,  and 
throwing  his  arm  about  her,  entered  the  palace. 

The  morrow  was  appointed  for  Guatemozin  to  meet  Cortes,  and 
great  joy  pervaded  the  Christian  camp,  for  the  forces  under  Alva- 
rado  and  Sandoval  had  swept  through  the  city,  and  joined  with 
those  of  the  general ;  and  glad  was  the  greeting  of  those  who 
had  been  separated  during  the  protracted  storm  and  siege — but 
many  an  old  familiar  face  was  missing,  and  many  a  hardy  soldier 
bore  the  marks  of  desperate  warfare.  But  hardships  and  wounds 
were  forgotten  in  the  gratulation  of  the  troops,  and  long  in  the 
night  were  the  merry  sounds  of  happy  voices  heard  ia  the  Chris- 
tian camp,  and  many  a  cup  of  the  wine  of  the  Aloe  was  quaffed  in 
that  company  of  rough,  bold  Spanish  soldiers,  who  afterwards 
slept  quiet  and  happy  in  a  city  where  famine  and  death  banqueted 
on  Aztec  hecatombs. 

The  morrow  came,  yet  Guatemozin  came  not,  but  in  his  stead 
the  emperor  deputed  five  nobles,  who  expressed  to  Cortes  the 
determination  of  their  monarch  not  to  surrender.  The  fiery 
Spaniard,  incensed  at  the  unwonted  resolve  of  Guatemozin,  dis- 
missed the  nobles,  and  bade  the  Aztec  people  prepare  for  death. 

Frightful  now  was  the  scene  in  the  great  city ;  ruins  lay  scat- 
tered far  and  wide  ;  marks  of  fire  and  blackened  wreck  were  upon 
every  hand,  and  in  every  house  were  the  ghastly  evidences  of 


THE    CAVALIERS    OY    THE    CROSS.  319 

famine,  disease  and  death,  while  the  clamor  of  the  almost  naked 
multitude,  as  they  wandered  in  every  direction,  crying  for  water 
and  for  bread,  was  heart-rending. 

Many,  mad  with  hunger,  gnawed  the  bark  of  trees,  and  preyed 
upon  the  very  worms  of  the  earth  !  Snails  upon  the  lake  shores 
were  caught  and  devoured  with  avidity,  and  hundreds  from 
choking  thirst,  drinking  the  briny  waters,  were  seized  with  fatal 
maladies,  and  died.  Frantic  mothers  ran  screaming  through  the 
streets  with  their  children,  and  threw  them  headlong  in  the  lake, 
and  then  leaped  after  them  and  were  drowned  !  Fathers,  mad 
with  hunger,  snatched  bread  from  the  hands  of  their  famishing 
oflPspring !  and  thousands  of  poor  burst  into  the  cellars  and  stores 
of  the  rich  and  noble,  to  seek  an  ear  of  corn  or  cup  of  wine. 

A  moving  mass  of  thousands  came  to  Guatemozin,  and  again 
supphcated  him  to  surrender. 

"Go  !"  cried  he,  '*  take  all  the  grain  and  water  of  my  house- 
hold, and  leave  not  an  ear  or  drop  of  either ;  sweep  my  granaries, 
and  make  my  cisterns  as  dry  as  a  sandy  desert.  Take  everything 
that  Guatemozin  has,  but  ask  him  not  to  yield  !'* 

The  multitude  turned  away  hopeless,  and  large  bodies  yielded 
themselves  up  to  the  conqueror  and  his  Christians,  for  they  were 
frantic  with  famine  and  thirst. 

It  was  night.  In  the  quarters  of  Cortes  sat  a  company  which 
consisted  of  the  Spanish  general,  Marina,  the  Indian  woman,  the 
princess  Tecalco,  Alvarado  and  Sandoval. 

**What  is  this  offer  which  I  learn  is  made  for  the  ransom  of 
this  fair  lady  V  questioned  Cortes. 

**I  hear,"  replied  Sandoval,  "that  there  is  one  who  offers  to 
fill  thy  helmet  thrice  with  gold  to  redeem  her." 

"  Nay,"  hastily  answered  Alvarado,  "  she  must  not  be  given 
up  at  any  price — she  is  the  pearl  of  the  realm,  without  price  and 
without  purchase." 

"  Not  so  fast,"  answered  Cortes,  **  I  must  determine  that  matter 
myself.  I  am  the  commander  here  ;  but  more  than  that,  I  am 
her  captor,  and  it  is  but  fair  that  I  should  fix  the  value  upon  my 
own  prize." 

"Name  the  sum,"  returned  Alvarado,  quickly,  "and  I  will 
answer  it,  though  it  should  drain  the  last  ducat  from  my  purse." 


320  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

"Thou  hast  just  said,"  replied  Cortes,  "that  she  is  beyond 
price." 

"Ay,"  Alvarado  replied,  "to  the  purchase  of  a  heathen,  but 
to  the  bid  of  a  free  Christian  knight,  she  should  be  fairly  rated." 

"Who  is  it  that  makes  this  offer  ?"  inquired  the  general. 

"  His  name,"  replied  Sandoval,  "  I  have  ascertained,  is  Mal- 
miztic." 

Tecalco  started,  and  her  bright  eyes  beamed  in  lustrous  beauty. 

"I  see,"  said  Cortes  to  her,  "that  you  know  this  man.  Is 
it  so  ?" 

"It  is,"  she  answered. 

-•And  hath  he  the  means  to  pay,"  said  the  other,  "  this  casque 
thrice  filled  with  gold  ?" 

"Truly,"  replied  the  princess,  instantly,  "  and  he  will  cover  it 
with  gems — jewels  as  fair  as  stars,  and  pure  as  dew — diamonds 
and  emeralds,  whose  brilliant  glow  far  outshines  our  royal 
treasury." 

"Then  the  man  is  rich?"  said  the  conqueror,  and  his  eyes 
grew  sparkling  with  eagerness. 

"Ay,"  replied  Tecalco,  "his  means  are  great,  as  his  bounty 
is  large." 

"How  then,"  answered  the  other,  "if  I  should  demand  this 
casque  to  be  thrice  filled  with  gems  as  well  as  gold  ?" 

"  He  will  give  it  gladly,"  replied  Tecalco. 

"  But,  beautiful  lady,"  said  the  general,  while  courtesy  strug- 
gled hard  with  avarice  in  his  countenance,  "  thou  must  not  deem 
that  I  would  make  a  sale  of  thee." 

"  Good  !  noble  general,"  interrupted  Sandoval,  "  thou  sayest 
well ;  it  is  not  fair  to  sell  her  like  a  common  slave." 

"  Nay,  truly,"  returned  Cortes,  and  his  eye  gleamed  with  the 
thought  of  gold,  "but  if  I  give  her  to  her  will,  and  she  return 
without  a  ransom  paid,  the  pagans  will  say  that  I  have  not  held 
her  in  a  worthy  light,  nor  shown  her  that  regard  comporting  with 
the  daughter  of  so  great  a  king.  Go  thou,  Sandoval,  and  make 
announcement,  that  if  this  heathen  will  bring  to  this,  our  Chris- 
tian camp,  gold  and  gems  to  fill  my  casque  thrice,  with  each,  the 
princess  shall  be  free." 

Sandoval   rose   and   departed,  but   Cortes,  calling  after  him, 


^ 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  321 

followed  the  cavalier  without  the  door,  and  whispered  in  his 
ear,  as  he  grasped  his  arm,  **  Let  the  sum  be  told  thrice,  and 
further,  demand  as  many  golden  ingots  as  a  man  can  bear,  and 
of  gems  a  like  amount.  Hold  out  this  price,  that  not  one  pound 
less  than  the  maiden's  weight  in  yellow  ore  shall  win  for  her 
redemption.  And  be  not  coy  in  this  demand,  for  this  most 
mystical  of  all  this  godless  race,  hath  such  vast  hidden  sums 
untold,  that  if  we  can  get  it  in  our  hands,  we  shall  be  able  to 
endow  a  monastery,  and  thereby  give  our  names  to  posterity  and 
heaven.  Think  well,  Sandoval,  the  gold  is  God's — the  claim  is 
for  the  Cross  !" 

Sandoval  sped  away,  and  Cortes  called  forth  Alvarado,  upon 
whose  brow  he  had  seen  a  terrible  cloud  gathering. 

''Thus,  Don  Hernando  Cortes,"  began  Alvarado,  the  moment 
he  neared  the  spot  where  the  general  stood,  "  do  you  ever  treat 
me,  making  a  plaything  of  me,  and  sporting  with  my  poverty — 
I  who  should  have  been  laden  with  gold,  but  for  my  faithfully 
following  thy  fortunes,  cast  aside  for  the  few  pieces  more  which 
the  heathen  could  bring  you." 

"  Why,  the  maid  is  the  daughter  of  a  king  ;  thou  wouldst  not 
make  her  thy  leman,"  responded  Cortes. 

*'  Leman  !"  echoed  Alvarado  ;  '*  surely  not." 

**Then,  what?"  cried  Cortes. 

"My  wife — my  better  self!"  replied  the  knight. 

"Thy  wife!"  exclaimed  Cortes,  with  amazement,  "a  pagan, 
from  the  very  home  of  idolatry,  to  wed  with  a  Christian  cavalier, 
a  noble  knight ! — madness,  mere  madness." 

"  Pagan,  Jew,  or  Mahommedan,"  cried  the  handsome  Span- 
iard, "  she  is  the  fairest  flower  that  blushes  upon  the  broad  plains 
of  the  western  world,  and  could  I  plant  her  in  my  bosom,  and 
bear  her  to  Andalusia,  I  would  be  happy  though  I  bore  not  back 
with  me  a  ducat." 

"Well,  enough  of  this,"  said  Cortes,  "I  have  fixed  a  course 
in  my  mind,  and  it  must  be  so." 

"And  I,"  replied  Alvarado,  while  his  face  reddened  and  his 
eyes  blazed,  "I  have  fixed  a  course  in  my  mind.  Hernando 
Cortes  !  you  and  I  must  part ; — my  resolve  is,  with  my  trusty  fol- 
lowers, to  leave  this  place,  and  meet  no  more  with  thee  !" 


322  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

"Nay,  nay,"  cried  Cortes,  with  a  smile,  "you  mistake  me; 
all  this  is  for  an  end — a  world  of  gold  is  gained  by  this,  which 
you  shall  share  ;  treasures  which  might  be  hid  forever,  are  thus 
brought  forth.  The  girl  returns  to  the  home  of  her  infidel  fore- 
fathers, free,  for  a  time,  but  a  mere  day,  for  in  the  nature  of  all 
earthly  things,  the  frightful  famine  and  pestilence,  which  have  so 
long  scourged  the  city,  must  make  surrender  a  close  approaching 
thing — and  then,  behold  !  the  bird  falls  in  our  hands  an  easy 
prey — the  trap  is  safe,  escape  impossible.  Now,  be  not  rash, 
good  Alvarado,  but  wait  the  morrow,  and  share  the  gold — the 
interest  upon  the  hope  deferred  is  rich.  Then  cut  not  your  har- 
vest ere  the  grain  be  ripe.  But  no  word  more  to  night — sleep — 
and  to-morrow  it  shall  all  go  well." 

The  morrow  came,  and  the  sun  shot  his  quivering  shafts  of 
gold  over  the  dark-doomed  city.  Before  the  quarters  of  the 
Spanish  general,  stood  Malmiztic,  with  three  Indians  upon  either 
hand,  laden  with  gold  and  gems. 

The  conqueror  rose  from  a  dream  of  dazzling  splendor — a 
dream  of  untold  riches — and  came  forth  and  met  the  reality. 
Wedges,  masses,  and  bars  of  the  glittering  ore  gleamed  before 
him  in  the  hands  of  Malmiztic's  servants.  Six  vases  bore  they 
of  the  brightest  silver,  and  these  were  filled  with  curious  works 
of  art,  in  solid  gold,  but  costlier  far  for  workmanship  than  ware, 
engraved  and  set  with  gems,  enameled  with  pale  pearls,  and  dot- 
ted with  diamonds. 

And  smaller  vessels  bore  they,  where  chains  of  rosy  rubies, 
grass-green  emeralds,  and  strings  of  blue  turquoise,  curled  up 
in  heaps,  upon  piles  of  loose  gems,  whose  dyes  were  delicate 
and  various  as  the  variegated  flowers  which  nodded  in  the  sun- 
shine in  the  bloom-blushing,  musk-scented  vale  of  the  crystal 
Chalco.  ^ 

Cortes  gazed  greedily  upon  the  rich  treasure,  and  soon  the 
beautiful  princess  was  brought  forth,  and  the  Toltec,  with  his  fair 
charge,  turned  towards  the  palace  of  Guatemozin,  while  Cortes 
gloated  over  his  glittering  golden  hoard,  and  set  aside  the  royal 
fifth  for  the  Spanish  emperor,  and  calling  in  Alvarado,  he  made 
a  partial  division  with  him,  but  kept  the  mass  of  the  treasure,  as 
he  said,  for  the  church. 


THE    CAVALIERS   OF    THE    CROSS.  323 

Thus,  selfishness  and  avarice,  like  twin  poison  vines,  creeping 
over  a  marble  statue,  clung  to,  and  darkly  shaded,  the  noble  char- 
acter of  Cortes ;  and  this  is  quietly  complained  of  by  one  of  his 
tried  veterans,  who  says  :  ''Though  he  forgot  us  in  the  distribu- 
tion of  property,  he  never  failed  to  call  upon  us  when  he  wanted 
our  assistance.*** 

*  Bemal  Diaz. 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 


Terrible  were  the  last  days  of  the  Aztec  empire  ;■  conflagra- 
tion spread  her  banner  of  crimson  and  black  to  the  breeze,  and 
the  smoky  ruins  smouldered  for  months. 

Famine  came,  and  like  a  vampire,  sucked  by  night  the  heart's 
blood  of  thousands,  until  the  multitude  who  wandered  through 
the  streets  seemed  like  a  ghostly  band  of  skeletons. 

Tributaries  and  allies  had  long  since  ceased  to  furnish  either 
food  or  troops  ;  and,  as  the  great  historical  Milton  of  America  says, 
upon  whose  mind  new  lights  have  flashed,  while  darkness  has  closed 
upon  his  vision,  **  The  Aztec  metropolis  saw  its  great  vassals  fall 
off,  one  after  another,  as  the  tree,  over  which  decay  is  stealing, 
parts  with  its  leaves  at  the  first  blast  of  the  tempest.'* 

It  was  a  siege  to  which  even  that  of  Jerusalem,  by  Titus,  alone 
could  compare. 

"In  short,"  says  Bernal  Diaz,  "so  unintermitting  were  our 
engagements,  by  day  and  by  night,  that  during  the  three  months 
in  which  we  lay  before  the  capital,  that  to  recount  them  all  would 
but  exhaust  the  reader's  patience,  and  make  him  fancy  he  was 
perusing  the  incredible  feats  of  a  knight-errant  of  romance." 

The  mind  of  every  one  shrinks  back  with  horror  to  contemplate 
the  surrendering  of  the  miserable  multitudes,  and  the  inhuman 
cruelty  of  the  allies  of  Cortes,  who  butchered  full  forty  thousand 
men,  women,  and  children !  while  the  deadly  pestilence,  and 
drinking  salt  water,  destroyed  as  many  more. 

It  was  a  scene  at  the  sight  of  which  horror's  self  would  have 
shuddered  and  sickened,  as  daily  the  meagre,  fam.ishing  wretches 
rushed  into  the  Christian  camp,  and  begged  for  bread  and  water, 
or  death. 

Thus,  host  after  host  of  the  dark,  hungry  legions  staggered 
forward  and  yielded  up  themselves,  at  the  moment  when  almost 
(324) 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  326 

ready  to  faint  from  famine  and  weakness,  or  revolting  and  loath- 
some disease. 

The  mighty  metropolis  was  a  foetid  sepulchre,  a  huge  and  hor- 
rible charnel  house,  whose  doors  were  guarded  by  the  dragon-like 
Spaniards,  so  that  the  living  could  not  escape  from  the  contami- 
nating dead. 

The  very  atmosphere  of  the  city  was  a  baleful  vapor,  where 
contagion  lurked,  and  the  red  sun  came  forth  each  morning  only 
to  look  on  a  larger  body  of  corses  than  darkened  the  earth  the 
day  before. 

Guatemozin  beheld  legion  after  legion  of  his  people  passing 
over  to  the  enemy,  and  calling  Malmiztic  to  his  palace  chamber, 
he  said : 

"My  friend,  this  is  a  piteous  spectacle!  Black  ruin  broods 
over  our  city,  and  Hope,  from  yon  pale  peak  of  Popocatepetl, 
bends  her  blue  eyes  upon  this  wreck  and  weeps.  I  had  dreamed 
that  when  we  struck  for  our  homes,  that  the  gods  would  have 
been  with  us,  but  our  Aztec  deities  turn  pale  before  the  omnipo- 
tence of  the  Christian  God  ;  and,  as  thou  didst  foretell,  Malmiztic, 
the  blood  of  sacrificed  captives  is  poured  back  upon  the  heads  of 
our  people,  and  the  ghosts  of  murdered  thousands  cry  from  the 
hollow  earth  for  retribution  and  revenge  !** 

*'Ay,  Guatemozin,'*  said  the  Toltec,  "I  told  it  to  Montezuma, 
and  he  heeded  it  not;  I  urged  the  brave  Cuitlahua  to  desist, 
but  he  was  deaf,  and  sacrifice  progressed.  Fate  pierced  their 
hearts  with  her  poison  arrow,  and  they  then  felt  in  death,  that  my 
words  were  true.  I  thundered  it  in  anathemas  against  the  bloody 
priests,  but  they  howled  at  me  and  scowled  defiance  to  my 
threats.  I  warned  the  people,  but  they  believed  me  not ;  and 
now,  behold,  the  fearful  hour  hath  arrived  when  a  ring  of  fire 
circles  them  about,  aid  there  is  no  escape,  and  they  must  perish ! 
for  nature's  God  has  cried  for  justice,  and  the  blue  throne 
of  heaven  would  fall  sooner  than  that  demand  should  pass 
unsatisfied." 

"But,  Malmiztic,"  replied  the  emperor,  "though  all  be  lost, 
yet  must  we  make  the  latest  hour  a  sad  one  to  the  foe.  It  must 
not  be  said  that  we  faltered  in  our  purpose,  even  though  grim 


326  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ,*    AND 

death  grins  in  our  faces  at  every  footstep.  Let  the  last  sigh  that 
tells  the  world  we  perish,  be  blent  with  the  cry  of  'Mexico, 
forever  !'  Earth  has  now  no  habitation  for  us — we  are  alone — 
lone  as  two  silent  palms  of  the  desert.  We  may  wander  where 
we  will,  but  shall  never  find  a  home.  If  then,  we  cannot,  at 
least,  we  can  leave  our  bodies  by  the  green  margin  of  Tezcuco, 
and  die  like  men  !" 

**  Guatemozin  !"  answered  the  Toltec,  "  my  heart  is  with  you ; 
I  say  one  more  blow  for  Mexico !  one  more  stroke  for  her  starving 
hosts !  one  holy  battle  to  decide  her  fate  !  Within  this  palace 
breathes  a  form,  whose  soul  not  all  the  Christians,  nor  the  un- 
known powers  of  the  earth  or  darkness  could  injure,  but  for  her 
body's  safety,  this  blade,  which  so  oft  hath  laid  the  invaders  low, 
shall  now  redress  her  wrongs,  and  aid  to  rescue  her,  or  else  the 
last  lamp  that  bums  of  all  the  Toltec  race,  must  meet  the  hurri- 
cane and  be  puffed  out,  and  darkness  close  upon  its  golden  gleam 
forever  !** 

**Ay  !  and  the  great  gods !"  exclaimed  Guatemozin,  "that  ter- 
rible thought,  my  wife,  and  babes  !  my  wife  !  my  Tecuiclipo  ! — 
who  will  shield  thee,  lily  of  my  soul ! — how  will  thy  fair  head 
bend  in  this  storm  ?  To  whom  wilt  thou  and  thy  infants  cling, 
and  cry  for  mercy?  To  Christian  fiends? — the  gods  forbid! 
Sooner  would  I  see  thy  dark  hair  stained  with  the  red  drops  from 
thy  bleeding  heart — thy  little  babes  white  corses  at  my  feet,  than 
thou  shouldst  pray  for  favor  to  the  heartless  wolves  that  hunt  ye 
down  !  No,  dear  wife,  and  harmless  innocents  !  Let  Tenochtitlan 
sink  upon  her  site — ^let  her  dark  towers  go  down  in  the  blue 
waves  of  Tezcuco — let  fire,  famine,  and  the  Christian  horde  rush 
over  thy  blasted  and  desolate  wreck — let  pestilence  leave  not  a 
living  ghost  to  stalk  amid  her  lonely  ruins — yes  !  perish  all !  and 
let  the  Aztec  empire  be  an  empty  name,  echoing  through  the  hol- 
low halls  of  history,  ere  we  must  cringe  to  kiss  the  Christian's 
feet !  Malmiztic  !  friend  !  to-morrow's  sun  must  seal  our  fate. 
Forgive  these  unmanly  tears  ;  but  if  I  should  fall,  as  it  is  most 
like  I  shall,  may  I  not  beg  that  you  will  guard  my  little  flock,  and 
save  them  with  yourself.  For  thee,  I  know,  no  Christian  host 
or  devilish  enginery  can  harm.      Some  mighty  angel  guards  thee 


THE    CAVALIERS    OP    THE    CROSS.  327 

with  his  wing.     Then  pray  you,  supplicate  his  strong  protection 
for  my  weak  babes,  and  may  be,  widowed  wife  !" 

"Enough,"  |p)lied  the  Toltec,  *' if  I  can  aid  them,  thy  dark- 
haired  wife  shall  suffer  no  distress,  and  not  a  curl  upon  thy 
prattlers'  heads  shall  be  disturbed.  The  morrow  settles  all, 
Guatemozin !  the  morrow  I" 


CHAPTER  XXXIV, 


It  was  the  eleventh  day  of  August,  in  the  year  fifteen  hundred 
and  twenty-one.  Three  and  ninety  days  had  the  Christians  be- 
leaguered the  stately  Athens  of  the  Occident — and  now,  the  last 
stern  remnant  of  the  Aztec  tribe  were  gathered,  under  their  mon- 
arch, hard  by  the  home  of  his  forefathers,  while  the  hostile  Chris- 
tians, high  with  hope,  and  proud  in  conscious  might  from  former 
victories,  could  almost  smile  to  behold  the  lean,  famine-stricken 
faces  and  attenuated  forms  of  Mexico's  last  protectors. 

No  longer  among  the  Aztec  troops  could  be  seen  the  gorgeous 
banners  blazing  with  all  the  colors  of  the  rainbow  ;  nor  were  the 
warriors  decked  in  the  rich  surcoats  of  splendidly-stained  feathers, 
which  formerly  gave  so  brilliant  an  appearance  to  the  Aztec  army 
when  upon  the  field.  The  garments  of  the  greater  part  of  them 
were  soiled  and  torn — a  beggarly  band  to  look  upon — but  in  the 
eyes  of  this  wretched  multitude  could  be  seen  the  fierce,  wild 
gleam  of  desperate  resolve,  and  each  countenance,  haggard  and 
hopeless,  wore  the  aspect  of  an  unflinching  martyr. 

Loud  brayed  the  brazen  trumpets,  and  on  came  the  yellow  en- 
sign of  Castile  and  the  Cross,  spotted  with  the  crimson  stains  of 
a  hundred  battles.  Strong  and  tried  war-horses,  like  centaurs, 
came,  shaking  their  manes  and  neighing  loud  and  wild,  as  if  they 
snuflFed  in  the  breeze  the  rage  of  the  coming  storm. 

Veterans,  weather-beaten,  brown,  and  scarred,  advanced  with 
a  firm  and  martial  tread,  while  behind  them  came,  with  scarce 
less  orderly  pace,  the  Tlascalans,  who  had  followed  the  conqueror 
through  his  night  of  defeat,  and  noon  of  victory,  and  they  were 
now  come  to  see  the  last  wreck  of  the  men  of  Mexico,  a  troop  of 
spectral  warriors — a  band  of  ghosts,  guarding  the  once  gorgeous 
home  of  Montezuma,  the  gilded  throne  whose  tapestry  had  fallen 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  329 

to  decay,  and  whose  rich  adornments  mouldered  in  the  deserted 
and  lonesome  palace  halls. 

Again  the  Christian  trumpets  rang  with  their  swelling  notes, 
and  the  loud  drums  proclaimed  the  charge.  Down  swept  the 
Christians,  like  an  avalanche,  and  booming,  like  the  thunder 
which  breaks  on  Orizaba's  brow,  came  the  roar  of  the  Christian 
cannon. 

It  is  morning,  and  the  first  black  wave  of  smoke  rolls  over  the 
blue  lake,  and  the  first  fierce  clash  of  arms  is  heard  as  the  com- 
batants rush  together. 

It  is  noon — all  the  pinnacles  of  the  surrounding  mountains  are 
wreathed  with  an  ebon  crown  of  clouds,  which  have  risen  from 
the  city,  where  the  din  of  battle  is  deafening.  The  stunning 
sound  of  conflicting  arms,  the  rush  of  many  footsteps,  the  voice 
of  wailing  and  the  shout  of  defiance.  The  old  Spanish  watch- 
word and  cry  of  **  Santiago  and  Spain,"  rose  like  the  thunder  of 
a  cataract,  and  like  an  echo  from  a  neighboring  glen,  the  shout 
came  back,  from  the  Aztec  lines,  of  *'  Mexico  or  Death  !" 

Hour  after  hour,  the  sun,  in  the  clear,  blue  sky,  looks  down 
through  the  veil  of  smoke  which  hangs  over  the  capital,  and  be- 
holds the  desperate,  unceasing  conflict. 

The  clang  of  weapons  knows  not  a  momentary  cessation — the 
warrior's  arm  knows  no  respite.  Rivulets  of  blood  are  in  the 
streets ; — but  what  is  blood  to  madmen  ?  Corses  fall  across  each 
other,  but  the  living  soldier  leaps  over  his  dead  brother,  and 
strikes  in  the  face  of  the  foe  !  Gaunt  Aztecs,  with  their  cheeks 
hollow  from  hunger,  wield,  with  their  bony  arms,  the  sharp  ma- 
quahuitl,  and  with  their  brilliant  black  eyes  burning  with  despera- 
tion, spring  on,  with  a  startling  shriek,  and  meet  death  without  a 
faltering  step,  or  shaken  nerve. 

Grim  Christian  veterans,  with  hearts  of  steel  and  hands  of 
iron,  meet  the  red  hosts  in  their  infuriate  course,  and  check  them, 
as  the  mountain  crag  rebuts  the  lightning's  lance. 

The  evening  sua  is  far  down  the  western  sky,  and  with  it  sinks 
the  hope  of  Mexico,  and  the  heart  of  Guatemozin.  Conflict  has 
changed  to  carnage,  and  battle  to  mere  bloodshed.  The  feeble 
Aztecs  stagger  at  the  foe,  and  tottering  back,  reel  and  fall  as  the 


330  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

Christians  sweep  by,  and  the  cruel  savage-souled  allies  rush  upon 
them  with  murderous  ferocity. 

Day  declines,  and  the  loud  voice  of  discord  grows  less  and  less; 
the  mighty  hosts  surrender  by  thousands.  Men,  women  and  chil- 
dren have  yielded  up.  Behind  the  conqueror  is  the  black  and 
burning  wreck  of  the  once  beautiful  city ;  before  him,  the  palace 
of  her  line  of  kings,  and  the  last  link  of  that  line  at  the  head  of 
a  handful  of  faithful  followers,  fighting  and  falling  back,  step 
by  step,  before  the  steady  and  terrible  assault  of  the  Christian 
Cortes  and  his  fiery  legions. 

Guatemozin  had  receded  until  he  came  to  his  own  princely 
palace.  In  the  rear  of  it  lay  the  lake,  upon  whose  surface  the 
lengthened  shadow  of  the  mighty  pile  rested,  dark  and  glo6mily, 
and  the  deep  waters  that  washed  the  massive  walls  at  the  base, 
scarce  moved  in  their  quiet  bed. 

**  Here,  Malmiztic,"  said  Guatemozin,  as  he  reached  one  of  the 
inner  rooms,  "  lies  the  treasure  which  yon  fierce  Spaniard  seeks  ; 
here  is  the  glittering  sun  of  gold,  which  has  long  shone  upon  the 
throne  of  the  Aztec  kings.  I  would  not  have  it  fall  in  Christian 
hands.  Our  nation's  last  hour  has  come,  and  let  this,  her  golden, 
emblematic  sun,  sink  in  the  blue  depths  of  Tezcuco,  as  yon  bright 
day-god  sinks  in  the  azure  sea  of  heaven." 

"Ay,"  said  the  Toltec,  "let  all  this  hoard  of  imperial  wealth 
lie  in  the  dark  depths  of  the  lake." 

Forthwith  Guatemozin  ordered  the  huge  sun  of  gold  to  be 
heaved  from  the  palace  window  into  the  quiet  waters.  The  pon- 
derous mass  fell  through  the  air  like  a  falling  star,  and  the  ruflfled 
waters  grew  glassy  where  it  sank.  Heaps  of  treasure  followed 
it,  until  the  whole  was  gone. 

"Now,"  cried  Guatemozin,  "  once  more  for  the  foe  ;  one  more 
blow  for  yon  golden  eagle  which  blazes  upon  the  banner  of 
Mexico  !" 

"Nay,"  cried  Malmiztic,  "it  is  vain.  This  day  is  lost — the 
boldest  opposition  were  desperate  folly.  Close  under  the  palace 
walls  boats  lie  in  wait.  I  have  thy  wife  and  babes  prepared; 
Tecalco,  too,  is  ready  now  to  fly.  My  own  black  boat  shall  bear 
her  hence,  and  six  stout  oarsmen  I  now  hold  at  command  to  save 
thyself  and  thine — come  away." 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  331 

"Nay,"  answered  Guatemozin,  "not  yet." 

**  Not  yet !"  echoed  the  Toltec,  "  why,  look  you  !  the  whole  of 
the  streets  swarm  with  Spaniards — Tlascalans,  like  troops  of 
howling  wolves,  thicken  in  dark  masses,  and  move  forward  with- 
out opposition ;  for  not  an  Aztec  is  to  be  seen  but  in  the  wildest 
flight." 

"  Nay,  but  one  last  blow  !"  said  Guatemozin. 

"  Folly !"  exclaimed  the  Toltec,  *'  a  moment  wasted  jeopardizes 
life." 

**  Well,  then,  away  !  and  I  will  follow  thee,"  replied  the  em- 
peror. 

The  Toltec  flew  to  the  part  of  the  palace  where  the  wife  of 
Guatemozin  stood,  trembling,  with  her  babes,  and  Tecalco,  like  a 
frightened  fawn,  beholding  Malmiztic,  flew  to  his  arms,  and  cried, 

"  Save  us,  for  heaven's  sake  !" 

"  Guatemozin  !"  cried  Tecuiclipo,  "where  is  he?  Malmiztic, 
where  is  he?" 

"  Without,"  rephed  the  Toltec ;  "  come,  lose  not  an  instant;  we 
must  to  the  boats,  and  away  !" 

"But  Guatemozin!"  cried  Tecuiclipo,  "I  move  not  without 
him ;  rather  die  here,  with  my  httle  ones,  than  leave  my  lord 
behind  !" 

"Yes  !  back,  Malmiztic  !"  cried  Tecalco,  pointing  to  the  part 
of  the  palace  where  the  shouts  of  the  Christians  could  be  heard, 
as  they  advanced. 

"  Fly  to  him !  for  the  sake  of  our  God  !  Malmiztic,  by  thy  hope 
of  heaven,  rescue  him !" 

"I  will,  Tecalco,"  said  the  Toltec,  "or  thou  shalt  never  see 
Malmiztic's  face  again  !" 

"Nay!  come  back,  come  back! — thou  canst  not  save  him — 
they  will  overwhelm  thee  with  their  host,"  exclaimed  Tecalco. 

But  her  voice  was  unheard — the  Toltec  was  gone — he  rushed 
through  the  great  halls  of  the  palace  and  reached  the  front  por- 
tal. In  the  street  and  court-yard  a  confused  mass  of  soldiers 
were  rushing  towards  the  broad  marble  steps,  which  led  up  into 
the  magnificent  pile  ;  and  casting  his  eager  eyes  over  the  multi- 
tude, he  beheld  the  towering  form  of  the  Aztec  emperor,  sheathed, 
like  himself,  in  a  suit  of  copper  mail.     Upon  him  a  furious  throng 


332  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

were  crowding,  while  right  and  left,  before  and  behind,  Guate- 
mozin  swept  a  blade  of  Toledo,  which  had  fallen  into  Aztec  hands 
on  the  fearful  Noche  Triste.  Still,  as  he  fought,  the  crowd 
pressed  upon  him,  until  they  had  forced  him  back  against  the 
wall.  A  shout  was  heard,  of  "Alvarado,  and  victory  !"  as  the 
handsome  cavalier  urged  his  way  through  the  mass  towards  the 
spot  where  Guatemozin  stood  at  bay.  "  Santiago  1"  shouted  the 
proud  Spaniard,  and  his  blue  sword  rang  on  the  copper  casing 
of  Guatemozin's  body.  No  sooner  had  the  Spaniard  struck,  than 
the  emperor  dealt  a  sweep  with  all  the  energy  of  his  over-labored 
arm — down  came  the  blade  upon  the  Spaniard's  casque,  and 
down  dropped  Alvarado,  as  if  thunder  smitten.  But  a  fierce 
Spanish  soldier,  seeing  the  cavalier  fall,  rushed  with  a  heavy 
lance  and  a  terrific  look  to  despatch  the  desperate  emperor.  The 
sharp-pointed,  glittering  steel  was  at  his  breast,  and  the  emperor, 
attacked  on  all  sides,  shrank  close  to  the  wall  and  crouched 
towards  the  earth.  The  Spaniard  was  just  upon  the  eve  of  driv- 
ing his  terrible  spear  to  the  Aztec's  heart,  when  a  blow,  swift  as 
thought,  struck  the  lance  in  twain,  and  the  powerful  Toltec, 
rushing  forward,  dealt  another  stroke  at  the  Spaniard,  who  in- 
stantly rolled  in  the  dizziness  of  death  upon  the  blood-spotted 
ground  ! 

In  a  moment,  Malmiztic  stood  side  by  side  with  the  emperor 
against  the  wall.  Guatemozin's  countenance,  which  had  been 
dark  with  despair,  now  lighted  up  with  a  wild  look  of  enthusiasm, 
and  shaking  his  sword  in  the  air,  exclaimed : 

**  Ye  gods  of  my  fathers  and  of  Mexico  !  now  I  can  die 
content !" 

"Madness!"  thundered  Malmiztic,  "thy  wits  are  wild;  see 
you  not  that  we  are  surrounded  ? — legions  are  upon  you — and 
escape  almost  hopeless." 

"  Then  here  let  us  die,  and  die  gloriously  !"  exclaimed  Guate- 
temozin,  with  an  enthusiastic  frenzy. 

"  Thy  mind  is  turned,"  said  the  Toltec  ;  "hear  reason  for  an 
instant." 

"Nay,  let  us  die  under  the  golden  wings  of  the  Aztec  eagle — 
such  a  death  were  a  triumph,  and  a  glory  fit  for  a  god !" 

"Fool"  said  the  Toltec,  furiously  seizing  Guatemozin  with 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  833 

one  arm  and  lifting  him  off  the  ground;  ** think  of  thy  wife  and 
babes  !" 

The  Toltec  strode  along  with  his  burthen  next  to  the  palace  wall, 
bearing  him  like  a  child,  while  with  his  right  arm  he  swept  his 
sword  in  swift  circles,  catching  the  countless  weapons  which  flashed 
before  them,  and  whirling  them  away  with  magical  rapidity. 

**Ay,"  cried  Guatemozin,  as  if  suddenly  awakening  from  a 
dream,  "  my  wife  !  my  babes  !    Let  me  free,  Malmiztic,  I  will  fly  !'* 

The  Toltec  dropped  the  emperor  on  the  palace  steps  ;  instantly 
he  darted  in,  and  Malmiztic  followed,  closing  a  massive  door  and 
barring  it.  Almost  instantaneously  the  crowd  of  conquerors 
thundered  at  the  barrier,  and  essayed  in  vain  to  break  the  copper- 
riveted  panels  to  fragments. 

"  Haste  !  haste  !"  cried  Malmiztic,  to  the  Aztecs  in  the  rear  of 
the  palace,  who  gathered  their  paddles,  and  began  plying  with 
might  and  main. 

"A  fortune  to  every  man  who  sets  foot,  with  Guatemozin,  on 
the  farther  shore  of  the  lake  !  Fly,  Aztecs,  fly  !  You  bear  your 
monarch  and  his  household  gods  ! — strike  strong,  for  every  stroke 
is  for  Mexico  !     Ply,  brave  lads,  ply  ! 

The  barge  darted  from  the  palace  side,  like  a  dolphin  through 
the  deep. 

Still  the  Spaniards  thundered  at  the  barrier. 

**  Now,  Tecalco  !"  said  the  Toltec,  lifting  her  light  form  by  the 
waist  with  one  arm,  and  placing  her  in  his  black,  bright-belted 
boat ;  "  now,  God  guard  us  on  our  way  !"  and  instantly  Malmiz- 
tic struck  the  water  with  his  quivering  oar,  and  the  magic  craft 
cleft  the  liquid  mirror  whereon  the  last  crimson  gleams  of  the 
setting  sun  rested. 

In  the  meantime,  Cortes  had  reached  the  palace,  which  the  few 
desperate  Aztecs  within  were  defending  ;  the  conqueror  burst  in. 

"Where,"  cried  he,  to  a  poor,  starving  wretch  of  an  Indian, 
**is  the  treasure  room?" 

The  wretched  creature  led  the  way,  but  reeled,  as  he  walked, 
from  weakness. 

**  Here,"  said  he,  opening  a  door  where  a  few  loose  gems  and 
pieces  of  gold  were  scattered  on  the  floor. 

**  This  !"  cried  the  conqueror,  with  rage  and   astonishment. 


334  MALMIZTIC,    THE   TOLTEC  ;    AND 

**  this  the  treasury  ! — lying  and  deceitful  knave,  where  lies  Gua- 
temozin's  gold?" 

**  There  is  his  all !"  the  Aztec  replied. 

**What!"  shouted  Cortes,  furiously,  "dost  thou  tamper  with 
me,  thou  Pagan  liar  ! — this  !  on  thy  head,  for  thy  presumption, 
thou  double-dealing,  serpent- tongued  heathen  !"  and  with  these 
words,  the  enraged  Spaniard  struck  the  weak  Aztec  dead  upon 
the  marble  floor,  and  dashed  into  apartment  after  apartment  of 
the  mighty  edifice  in  search  of  the  huge  hoard  of  gold  which  his 
eyes  of  avarice  had  pictured  there. 

From  room  to  room  he  rushed,  penetrating  every  part  of  the 
palace,  from  darkest  vaults  to  the  flat  and  open  roof,  and  reach- 
ing at  length  the  terrace,  breathless  with  exertion,  his  face  wan 
and  blank  with  disappointment,  he  sank  dewn  upon  the  stone 
wall,  and  gazed  upon  the  universal  wreck  below,  where  the  once 
splendid  city  reared  her  thousand  magnificent  towers  aloft,  form- 
ing a  scene  more  gorgeous  than  the  palaces  of  the  genii  in  an 
enchanter's  vision. 

But  now,  behold,  a  vast  outspread  map  of  chaotic  ruin,  crum- 
bled and  scattered  in  huge  unsightly  masses !  Bare,  black,  burnt 
walls,  through  which  the  last  red  rays  of  the  setting  sun  poured 
their  crimson  flood  upon  piles  of  ruin  heaped  upon  each  other. 

Casting  his  eyes  over  the  lake,  he  beheld  a  fleet  of  Aztec 
boats  urging  their  way  to  escape  from  the  city,  while  the  Spanish 
craft  were  chasing  them  in  every  direction.  Midway  in  the  dark 
sheet  of  water,  whose  surface  blushed  with  the  reflection  of  long, 
flame-colored  clouds,  he  descried  two  boats  whose  speed  far  sur- 
passed all  others  upon  the  lake ;  in  one,  six  oarsmen  swept  their 
shining  paddles  through  the  yielding  element,  and  drove  the 
keen  craft  over  the  deep,  like  an  albatross  on  wing ;  and  like  a 
rapid  swallow,  winnowing  over  the  wave,  a  small,  black  boat, 
lightly  as  a  flying  shadow,  shot  past  the  other,  though  but  a 
single  dark  figure  plied  the  enchanted  oar.  Suddenly,  Garcia  Hol- 
guin,  who  had  chased  a  flying  fleet  of  Aztecs,  perceived  a  boat 
coming,  and  forthwith  he  bade  his  crew  use  every  exertion  to 
capture  it — but  not  the  swift  fish  which  flew  through  the  lake, 
could  more  rapidly  dart  away  than  did  the  dark  shell  which  bore 
the  Toltec  and  Tecalco.      The  red  flash  of   muskets  gleamed 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  335 

across  the  darkening  waters,  but  the  spirit-like  boat  moved  on  its 
flying  course,  until  lost  in  the  shadows  of  the  trees  on  the  distant 
shore.  Forthwith  Holguin  turned  back,  and  met  the  six  stout 
oarsmen,  who  plied  with  speed.  A  figure  rose  in  the  craft,  and 
bade  the  oarsmen  labor  for  their  lives ;  but  vain  was  the  cry 
of  that  tall  chief — before  him  was  Holguin,  with  his  well- 
armed  barge ;  behind  him  came  crews  of  Spaniards,  hastening 
for  their  prey.  But  Holguin  saw  the  figure  in  the  boat,  and 
knew  the  cry — that  voice  had  more  than  once  startled  him  in  bat- 
tle. The  prize  was  here — here,  the  object  of  the  day,  the  Aztec 
emperor — Guatemozin  himself ! 

''Yield!"  shouted  the  excited  Spaniard — but  the  rowers  yet 
went  on. 

'*  Yield  !'*  repeated  Holguin — but  every  paddle  plied. 

"Fire  !'*  cried  the  Spaniard,  agitated  with  anxiety,  "but  spare 
the  king  !" 

Through  the  dusky  shadows  of  the  nightfall  the  crimson  gleam 
was  seen,  and  the  report  of  guns  rolled  over  the  water — two  of 
the  rowers  fell  dead  ! 

"Hold !"  cried  Guatemozin,  to  his  men,  "it  is  past — the  Gods 
are  against  us  !'* 

Almost  instantly  Holguin's  crew  grappled  with  the  Aztec 
barge. 

****** 

The  red  sun  had  set  in  thunder-clouds  when  Cortes  beheld  the 
last  of  the  Aztec  kings  a  captive,  on  his  knees  before  him,  in  the 
midst  of  his  own  ruined  city. 

"  Cortes,"  said  the  noble  captive  monarch,  and  tears  flooded 
his  black  eyes,  "  I  have  done  that  which  was  my  duty,  in  defence 
of  my  kingdom  and  my  people  ;  my  efi"orts  have  failed,  and  being 
now  brought  by  force  a  prisoner  in  your  hands,  draw  that  poniard 
from  thy  side,  and  stab  me  to  the  heart ;  but  spare,  oh !  spare  my 
wife — my  wife  and  harmless  babes  !" 

The  stern  conqueror  smiled ;  triumph  and  pity,  glory  and  re- 
morse were  in  his  glance. 

"Nay,"  said  he,  kindly,  "resolute  and  proud  prince,  yon 
Christian  flag  which  floats  from  the  tower  of  thy  fathers,  wars 
not  with  women  and  their  babes.     Men  are  its  opponents,  and 


336  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

yon  Cross  is  the  emblem  of  clemency,  and  even  with  thee,  un- 
yielding infidel,  we  will  deal  tenderly." 

The  high-strung  nerves  of  the  fair-browed  Guatemozin  gave 
way  ;  the  pent-up  waters  of  his  soul  broke  their  bounds,  and 
flowed  fast  and  free.  He  turned  his  streaming  eyes  towards  the 
setting  sun,  but  it  was  gone.  Around  him  the  black  and  deserted 
tenements  and  palaces  of  his  people  grew  darker,  as  the  shades 
of  night  deepened.  The  conqueror  led  the  way  to  his  quarters, 
and  the  captive,  with  his  wife  and  children,  followed  in  his  foot- 
steps. 

Night  wore  on,  but  not  a  star  looked  through  the  dusky  cur- 
tains of  the  sky  ;  no  moon,  with  her  yellow  lamp,  walked  through 
the  gloomy  halls  of  heaven.  The  red  blush  from  the  west  was 
gone,  and  a  black  bank  of  storm-clouds  rolled  in  chaotic  gran- 
deur from  the  northern  star  to  the  farthest  point  of  the  south. 
Gloomy  masses,  taller  than  Popocatapetl  piled  upon  Chimborazo, 
loomed  up  out  of  the  distance,  and  doubled  the  ebon  darkness  of 
the  night.  The  winds  were  hushed — the  tired  soldiers  were 
asleep — the  dead  city  lay  wrapped  in  her  shroud  of  sables.  But 
the  gloomy  conqueror  and  his  heart-broken  prisoners  were  full 
awake,  save  the  two  gentle  babes,  who  alone  slept  as  innocence 
can  sleep,  which  knows  not  the  ills  of  earth,  and  the  pale  sorrows 
"which  touch  the  lids  of  slumber  and  frighten  away  sweet  dreams. 

But  that  fearful  night,  nature  knew  no  dream  in  the  murky 
skies.  No  insect  gave  its  night-cry  in  the  gloomy  groves — no 
melodious  mocking-bird  poured  forth  his  silver  song  to  his  mate 
and  the  moon.  Silence,  on  her  two  great  wings,  hovered  over  the 
city,  and  held  her  breath  to  listen  for  the  wild  tempest  which  was 
coming  through  the  midnight  gloom  of  the  mountains,  startling 
the  hooting  owl  from  the  hollow  trunk  of  the  oak,  and  frightening 
the  wild  raven  from  his  roost  on  the  pinnacle  of  the  towering 
pine. 

That  day  the  earthly  empire  of  the  Aztecs  had  been  over- 
thrown, and  now  the  fiends  of  darkness  and  destruction  had 
gathered  to  throw  the  elements  into  confusion  and  discord. 

First  came  the  faint  breeze,  which  barely  waved  the  frail  grass; 
then  came  the  gale,  which  lifted  the  loose  ashes  from  the  black 
streets  and  burnt  wrecks,  and  carried  it  whirling  through  the  air. 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  337 

like  the  thick  flakes  of  a  snow-storm,  filling  the  whole  atmosphere 
as  the  sand-clouds  in  the  simoon.  Now  came  the  wild  whistle  of 
the  storm-spirit  of  the  Cordilleras,  and  his  legion  of  night  witches 
singing  in  the  wind  ;  the  sharp,  keen  breath  of  the  tempest,  as 
its  fury  arose,  lifted  every  light  thing  from  the  earth,  and  scat- 
tered it  loose  in  the  air.  Anon,  like  a  mighty  avalanche,  the  huge 
clouds  rolled  down  from  the  tops  of  the  mountains  hard  by,  and 
swept  resistless  through  the  valley  ;  the  level  waters  of  Tezcuco 
were  lifted  above  the  clouds ;  the  foaming  billows  of  the  lake 
rose  curling  in  the  air,  as  white  as  the  pale  peak  of  Orizaba. — 
And  now,  like  a  demon  let  loose  to  destroy,  the  hurricane  rushed 
roaring  upon  the  ruined  city  ;  walls,  which  were  grey  with  centu- 
ries of  age,  fell  prostrate  in  his  path ;  frail  cottages  were  blown 
to  fragments  ;  high,  massive  walls,  hurled  down,  fell  with  an 
earthquake  shock,  and  the  very  island  foundations  of  the  city 
seemed  shaking,  as  if  ready  to  sink  into  some  awful  gulf  hollowed 
out  of  the  deep  crater  of  the  world.  Every  pile  shivered  on  its 
site,  and  every  instant  some  giant  wreck  trembled  on  its  base  and 
tottered  to  the  earth  in  thundering  ruin.  And  now,  the  thunder 
of  heaven  returned  an  answer  to  the  deafening  roar  below,  and 
as  the  crash  of  some  massive  palace  was  heard,  the  burst  of  the 
cloudy  artillery  pealed  forth  a  hoarse  and  overwhelming  echo, 
until  the  din  was  more  dreadful  than  the  ear  of  day  ever  heard. 

And  not  with  one  voice  came  the  jarring  thunder,  but  one  in- 
cessant roll  shook  the  ^earth  and  the  air,  while  from  the  inky 
masses  overhead,  which  was  not  cloud,  but  solid  night  and  load- 
stone blackness,  the  crimson  lava  streams  of  fire^ran  red  and  hiss- 
ing from  the  impenetrable  gloom  above. 

Cataracts  of  blue  and  quivering  lightning  leaped  down  from  the 
mountains  of  ebon  gloom,  with  a  thousand  running  branches  and 
trembling  forks,  and  glared  on  the  ghastly  wreck  of  the  ruined 
city  with  a  strange,  unearthly  gleam. 

Fire  seemed  to  rain  from  heaven,  as  upon  a  new  Sodom  and 
Gomorrah,  while  the  black  lake  rose  to  swallow  up  a  second  city 
of  the  plain. 


29 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 


Thus  passed  the  most^lsrrific  tempest  that  ever  shook  the  tropic 
region ;  it  fled  with  the  night,  and  when  the  morning  came  the 
sky  was  as  clear  as  the  pellucid  depths  of  a  mountain  pool.  The 
yellow  sunshine  streamed  down  from  heaven,  and  gilded  the  val- 
ley with  its  mellow  light,  and  where  the  thousand  spires  of  Te- 
nochtitlan  had  glittered,  lay  one  tremendous  mass  of  wreck  and 
ruin. 

Thus  fell  the  Empire  of  the  Aztecs,  whose  rapid  rise  and  bril- 
liairt  existence  closed  with  the  most  disastrous  downfall  and  com- 
plete overthrow,  that  ever  befell  a  nation  of  the  earth.  The 
vast  temple  of  idolatry,  within  whose  mysterious  halls  the  gods 
of  Ihe  Aztecs  sat  upon  their  gorgeous  thrones  of  gold,  had  fallen. 
The  lightning  eye  of  the  One  omnipotent  was  turned  upon  them, 
and  every  mystic  mockery  was  hurled  from  its  seat,  and  in  the 
dust  lay  broken  to  fragments,  an  emblem  of  its  own  nothingness. 
A  whisper  went  forth  from  heaven,  and  a  thousand  thunders 
pealed  through  the  palaces  of  the  Pagan  gods ;  one  universal 
crash  was  heard,  and  all  the  temples  of  their  terror  and  glory 
were  gone  forever ! 

Tenochtitlan  sank  to  rise  again ;  the  young  grass  upon  her 
ruins  had  scarce  put  forth  its  emerald  blades,  before  a  thousand 
Aztec  slaves,  who  had  been  freemen,  were  busy  under  a  new 
monarch — a  Christian  master — and  a  new  city  rose  out  of  the 
wreck. 

The  reeking  feculence,  which  had  made  the  spot  a  home  for 
pestilence,  was  swept  away,  and  health,  with  her  rosy  face  and 
balmy  breath,  hovered  over  the  blue  Tezcuco,  and  fanned  the 
valley  with  her  refreshing  wings.  Months  passed  by,  but  the 
restless  spirit  who  had  usurped  this  realm,  had  failed  to  find  the 
object  of  his  search.  The  gold  which  his  fancy  had  discovered  in 
(338) 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  339 

the  distance,  turned  to  brown  rocks  upon  approaching ;  the  fruits 
of  his  imagination,  like  the  apples  of  the  Dead  Sea,  were  gilded 
on  the  surface,  and  ashes  at  the  heart. 

Disappointed  and  dissatisfied,  he  once  more  gathered  his  sol- 
diers, seeking  in  the  excitement  of  commanding  an  army  some- 
thing to  quiet  the  uneasiness  of  his  troubled  soul. 

Away  for  leagues  to  the  south,  he  moved  his  hosts,  and  the 
captive  king  whom  he  had  conquered. 

Mile  upon  mile,  and  day  after  day,  did  he  wend  his  way  into 
a  land  where  never  before  trod  the  foot  of  CJiristian,  traversing 
broad  plains,  where  the  lone  aloe  stood  in  its  beauty,  over  moun- 
tains whose  snow-white  heads  glittered  in  a  tropic,  ;^"  and 
through  valleys  whgse  dense,  dark  wildernesses  were^'o*  :^.ij^d 
with  giant  trunks,  so  huge  that  the  ancient  oaks  of  Europe  .\«ould 
have  dwindled  into  dwarfish  saplings  by  their  sides.  And  often, 
in  penetrating  these  primeval  forests,  would*  he  come  full  upon 
some  olden  city,  overshadowed  by  a  thousand*  leafy  trees  and 
inextricably  tangled  vines,  seeming  like  the  sylvan  sarcopha- 
gus of  a  buried  nation  of  Eld.  And  here,  in  the  thick  and 
gloomy  woods,  the  Christian  hosts  would  pause  to  rear,  amid  the 
sombre  shadows  of  those  southern  groves,  the  rude  figure  in 
wood  of  the  Cross  of  Christ.* 

Week  after  week,  the  toilsome  march  went  on  ;  roads  were  cut 
through  the  pathless  wilds,  through  tangled  thickets,  and  thorny 
brakes  ;  rapid  and  rocky  streams  were  forded,  and  when  the  un- 
known land  of  Guatemala,  far  away  south,  was  entered,  broad 
rivers,  unnavigated  and  dangerous,  rolled  through  the  land,  but 
checked  not  the  course  of  the  conqueror. 

Native  tribes,  startled  by  the  unheard-of  stranger,  came  forth  to 
bar  his  way,  but  were  scattered  by  his  band  as  wild  fowl  by 
eagles. 

Still  farther  and  farther  south  he  urged  his  course,  hope  telling 
him  that  the  city  of  gold  might  yet  burst  upon  his  view,  through 
the  dark  green  bowers  of  that  land  of  eternal  summer. 

But  yet  the  living  phantom  of  gold  glided  ever  before  him,  but 
eluded  his  grasp.     It  was  an  incorporeal  shadow  of  the  mind, 

*  "  On  our  route  we  made  crosses  on  the  living  trees,  and  put  inscriptions, 
sayingi  *  Here  passed  Cortes  and  his  army,  at  such  a  time.' " — ^Bbenal  Diaz. 


340  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

whose  gilded  figure  danced  ever  in  the  distance,  Hke  the  delusive 
fairies  which  visit  men  in  dreams.  Deceived  and  maddened  by 
this  vision  of  disappointment,  Cortes  now  daily,  as  he  progressed, 
urged  upon  his  captive,  Guatemozin,  to  disclose  where  he  had 
hidden  the  treasures  of  the  empire.  The  captive  denied  that  any 
existed,  save  what  was  sunken  deep  in  Tezcuco,  but  the  Christian 
grown  furious,  contradicted  him,  and  swore  it  was  a  subterfuge, 
and  that  the  rich  mass  was  still  secreted,  under  the  hope  that  the 
Aztec  might  yet  have  an  opportunity  of  enjoying  it. 

Each  day  Cortez  pressed  him  to  disclose  the  hidden  spot,  but 
still  the  king  disclaimed  all  knowledge  of  a  secret  store. 

Next  came  cruel  threats  and  menaces,  with  talk  of  torture. 
The  proud-hearted  Aztec  heard  the  threats  with  an 'unshaken 
soul,  and  was  silent ;  this,  to  Cortes,  seemed  the  spirit  of  defiance, 
and  that  spirit  he  resolved  to  break.  He  therefore  had  the  priso- 
ner bound,  and  his  feet  placed  near  a  burning  fire,  and  anointed 
with  oil !  The  heroic  and  unfortunate  emperor  winced  and 
writhed  under  the  fiery  torment — the  hot  flames  cracked  and 
crisped  the  living  flesh,  but  the  resolute  victim  faltered  not  in  his 
firmness. 

"Now,"  cried  Cortes,  *'  will  thy  pagan  spirit  yield  V* 

"Yield  !"  replied  the  sufferer,  "what  have  I  to  relinquish  but 
life  ? — these  glowing  embers  which  burn  before  me  are  a  living 
bed  of  roses,  whose  natural  thorny  stings  I  cannot  blame  ;  but 
thou  shalt  find  these  coals,  which  now  blush  to  behold  thy  fiend- 
ish cruelty,  shall  yet  burn  within  thy  soul — they  shall  be  flowers 
of  fire  !  and  thine  own  thoughts  shall  be  the  fuel  upon  which  they 
ehall  feed !  Nay,  these  red  roses  shall  live  when  this  body  shall 
perish,  and  shall  sear  thy  soul,  as  they  now  consume  my  flesh.* 

The  conqueror  finding  his  victim  failing,  commanded  the  torture 
to  be  withheld,  and  he  continued  his  march  with  his  army. 

Daily  some  unlooked  for  obstacle  intercepted  his  path,  until  he 
came  at  length  to  a  wide,  sluggish  river,  which  checked  his  whole 

*Ce  trait  est  digne  de  plus  beau  temps  de  la  Gr^ce  et  de  Rome.  Sous 
toutes  les  zones  quelle  que  soit  la  couleur  des  hommes,  la  langagetdes 
Ames  fortes  lorsqu'  elles  luttent  contre  malheur,  Nous  avons  vu  plus  haut 
quelle  fut  la  fin  tragique  de  cet  infortune  Qu^uhteraotzin." 

Humboldt,  Nouy.  Esp.  p.  192.  4to  ed. 


THE    CAVALIERS    OF    THE    CROSS.  341 

troop ;  upon  its  marshy  margin  the  main  body  halted,  while  a 
part  of  the  Christians,  with  auxiliary  Indians,  undertook  to  cross 
the  shallow  but  miry  slash  which  spread  out  for  miles,  like  a 
broad  lake,  forming  a  complete  quagmire,  through  which  the 
soldiers  could  scarce  draw  one  foot  after  another,  and  in  which 
the  horses  floundered  and  fell. 

But  Cortes  ordered  the  whole  army  to  forthwith  commence  an 
immense  bridge  of  logs,  to  be  laid  on  the  surface  of  the  water, 
and  to  be  fastened  one  to  another  until  the  stream  was  passed. 

The  work  began  and  progressed,  but  numbers  daily  became  sick ; 
for  outside  of  the  forest,  within  whose  dense  shades  they  felled  the 
timbers,  the  hot  sun  sent  down  his  burning  beams,  which  were  so 
fierce  and  scorching  that  the  workmen  could  scarce  breathe. 
And,  added  to  these  difficulties,  the  stock  of  provisions  necessary 
to  provide  for  so  large  a  body  of  men  was  well  nigh  exhausted, 
and  the  troops  were  forced  to  feed  upon  such  fruits  and  wild 
meats  as  could  be  found  in  that  tropical  wilderness. 

But  all  these  difficulties  and  perils  were  surmounted,  and 
Cortes,  the  conqueror,  with  his  army,  passed  into  the  heart  of 
Central  America. 

The  savage  cruelty  with  which  he  had  treated  his  captive,  had 
roused  the  ire  of  the  few  noble  natives  who  were  yet  the  travelling 
companions  of  Guatemozin,  and  the  prisoners  of  the  Spaniard, 
and  they  complained  bitterly  of  the  unkindness  and  inhumanity 
of  Cortes,  who,  hearing  these  murmurs,  became  inflamed  with  the 
most  violent  passion,  and  flying  to  Guatemozin,  red  with  rage,  he 
bade  him  prepare  to  die !  for  daring  to  bring  treason  into  the 
camp — for  even  veteran  Castihans  had  been  loud  in  their  clamors 
against  the  course  of  their  commander. 

Guatemozin  heard  the  fearful  sentence  with  a  calm,  unterrified 
countenance.  But  Cortes  proclaimed  that  he  had  overheard  and 
detected  a  dark  plot  of  treachery,  and  charged  a  young  noble 
Aztec,  who  had  accompanied  the  emperor,  with  having  connived 
at  his  escape,  and  sentenced  him  to  death  likewise. 

**  Would  it  had  been  so  !"  said  the  noble  youth,  "would  that 
this  hand  or  head  could  have  set  the  good,  the  great,  the  glorious 
Guatemozin  free  !'* 


342  MALMIZTIC,    THE   TOLTEC  ;    AND 

''Villain  !"  exclaimed  the  angry  general,  *'thou  art  doomed  to 
death  1" 

"Spaniard!"  replied  the  youth,  "I  am  happy  to  die  by  the 
side  of  my  sovereign  !'* 

"Then  die  thou  shalt !"  returned  the  other,  and  forthwith  he 
ordered  Guatemozin  and  the  youth  forth  to  where  a  giant  tree 
stretched  out  its  strong  arms. 

The  whole  army  stood  gazing  in  gloomy  silence,  as  the  prison- 
ers were  led  to  the  place  of  execution  ;  the  priest  came  forward 
to  confess  the  condemned,  but  Guatemozin  waved  the  minister 
away  with  his  hand,  and  fondly  embracing  his  wife  and  babes, 
mounted  the  fatal  stand,  with  his  young  and  faithful  subject. 

Cortes  gazed  sternly  upon  Guatemozin,  and  the  unwavering 
Aztec  emperor  returned  the  look,  with  a  sad,  settled,  but  un- 
daunted glance. 

The  old  cavaliers  beheld  the  captives,  and  down  the  iron- 
brown  cheeks  of  men  inured  to  sights  of  woe,  the  tears  of  sym- 
pathy coursed  like  crystal  beads. 

"What  hast  thou  to  say?"  questioned  the  conqueror,  "ere 
thou  art  launched  into  eternity,  and  a  world  prepared  for  the 
devil  and  idolatrous  traitors  ?" 

"  This  only,"  replied  Guatemozin,  turning  his  large  black  eyes 
upward  towards  heaven,  "may  God  demand  of  you  this  innocent 
blood!" 

Like  an  electric  flash  the  deep  mellow  music  of  the  emperor's 
trembling  voice,  spoken  from  the  brink  of  the  grave,  pierced  the 
heart  of  the  Christian,  and  the  color  fled  from  his  face,  but  his 
blanched  lips  moved,  and  the  fatal  order  came  hollowly  from  his 
throat — the  dread  mandate  was  uttered,  and  that  glorious  figure 
of  strength  and  beauty  dangled  and  twirled  in  the  air ! 

One  struggle,  terrible  and  convulsive,  shook  his  frame,  and 
that  form  of  symmetry  stretched  forth  its  limbs,  and  was  a  corse  1 

Guatemozin  was  no  more,  and  by  his  side  a  noble  youth  hung 
lifeless  in  the  air  ! 

A  wild  shriek  was  heard,  which  pierced  the  ear  with  horror. 
A  tall,  pale  woman  was  seen  to  throw  up  her  arms  towards 
heaven,  and  fainting,  fell  upon  the  earth. 

Hernando    Cortes   had    reached   his    revenge  —  his    passion 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  343 

had  culminated.  The  cup  of  glory  which  he  now  quaffed  was 
blood  !  Men  who  had  followed  his  footsteps,  and  almost  wor- 
shipped him  as  a  demi-god,  and  flocked  about  him  when  green 
fields  grew  crimson  in  battle,  now  shuddered  and  shrank  from 
him  as  a  murderer,  whose  lips  of  ice  could  drink  the  hot  blood 
of  an  innocent  victim.  And  one  of  the  old  war-worn  soldiers, 
when  speaking  of  the  scene  which  they  had  witnessed,  exclaims, 
"I  also  declare  they  suffered  death  most  undeservingly,  and  so  it 
appeared  to  us  all,  amongst  whom  there  was  but  one  opinion  upon 
the  subject,  that  it  was  a  most  unjust  and  cruel  sentence."* 

Thus  perished,  in  his  prime,  the  noblest  monarch  of  the  western 
world — the  purest  patriot  that  ever  graced,  with  valor  and  virtue, 
a  throne  in  the  land  of  the  setting  sun  ! — one,  who  blended  the 
heart  of  a  hero  with  a  soul  as  kind  and  soft  as  that  of  the  gen- 
tlest woman — whose  fair  face  wore  a  cheerful  and  lovely  expres- 
sion—whose large,  black  eyes  lighted  a  god-like  countenance, 
and  whose  noble  appearance  in  form,  fitted  him  for  the  high  and 
active  station  of  command  which  he  occupied. 

Success,  which  makes  men  great,  who  failing  would  have  been 
unknown,  did  not  crown  his  unparalleled  courage  and  constancy ; 
but  the  arm  of  fate  fought  against  him,  and  he  stood  supporting 
the  pillar  which  upheld  the  falling  temple  of  the  Aztec  empire — 
man  after  man,  who  had  been  propping  up  the  kingdom's  struc- 
ture, had  fled  from  the  impending  ruin,  yet  not  until  the  fatal 
crash  was  heard,  did  he  deign  to  fly.  But  it  was  too  late,  the 
temple  and  throne  reeled  and  fell  in  fragments — but  the  wreck 
buried  him  not ;  it  was  left  to  the  evil  heart  of  Cortes  to  slay  that 
being  whom  the  God  of  battles  had  spared. 

And  thus,  ignobly  hung,  Guatemozin  died — "  a  character,'* 
says  the  admirable  Clavigero,  "  entitled  to  a  better  fate ;  an  ex- 
ample of  fidelity  most  worthy  to  be  recorded,  which,  had  the 
hero  been  Grecian  or  Roman,  in  place  of  American,  would  have 
been  the  subject  of  praise  of  both  historians  and  poets." 

*  Bernal  Diaz. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI 


*'  I  WILL  conclude  this  account  by  observing,  that  it  appears  that  the  mar- 
quis never  prospered  from  the  time  of  his  first  conquest  of  New  Spain,  and 
his  ill  fortune  is  ascribed  to  the  curses  with  which  he  was  loaded." — Beknal 
Diaz. 

Far  in  the  untraversed  wilds  of  Guatemala,  the  conqueror  con- 
tinued his  march ;  terrible  were  the  sufferings  of  his  army 
in  that  deep  wilderness  and  region  of  a  fiery  sun,  but  far  more 
terrific  were  the  thoughts,  the  troublous  thoughts,  that  tortured 
the  soul  of  Hernando  Cortes.  The  retribution  for  the  past 
pressed  heavily  upon  his  mind,  and  closer  than  his  own  shadow 
the  black  spirit  of  remorse  haunted  him  in  the  sunshine,  and  in 
solemn  shades  of  night  it  sat  by  his  couch,  and  with  its  piercing 
eyes  gazed  into  his  very  soul. 

In  his  painful  dreams  the  pale  ghost  of  the  murdered  Guate- 
mozin  would  come  to  him  with  its  reproachful  countenance,  and 
beckon  with  its  shadowy,  skeleton  hand  for  him  to  follow  it,  until 
the  soul-stricken  dreamer  would  start  up  from  his  couch  trembling 
with  horror,  while  the  cold  clammy  perspiration  stood  in  great 
drops  upon  his  white  brow. 

Thus  day  by  day  passed  on,  and  he  lay  upon  a  soul-rack,  per- 
petually sufiFering  silent  agonies  unspeakable. 

It  was  night — the  army  had  halted — the  camp  fires  were  dying 
out  by  which  the  troops  had  prepared  their  scanty  meal,  and  the 
weary  soldiers,  worn  out  with  fatigue,  lay  wrapped  in  deep  sleep, 
the  sweet  oblivion  of  the  overtasked  body. 

In  his  camp,  the  conqueror  lay  upon  his  rude  bed  with  wakeful 
eyes,  while  around  him  could  be  heard  many  snoring  heavily ; 
but  when  he  closed  his  lids  to  court  slumber,  fifty  Tlascalans  lifted 
their  bloody  arms,  without  hands,  before  him,  and  passed  on  in 
melancholy  procession.  Then,  strange,  grinning  apes  descended 
(344) 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  345 

from  the  trees  hard  by,  and  mowed  and  chattered  at  him  ;  huge 
serpents  wrapped  their  cold  coils  about  his  body,  and  shook  their 
trembling,  scarlet  tongues  close  before  his  eyes ;  scaly  drarrons 
crawled  around  him,  and,  hissing,  blew  their  foul  breath  in  his 
nostrils  and  ears  ;  vampires,  with  their  wings  of  leather,  sealed 
his  mouth,  and  he  suffocated. 

With  a  convulsive  bound  he  sprang  to  his  feet,  gasping  for  air ; 
forth  he  rushed  into  the  midnight  forest ;  the  broad,  white  moon 
looked  down  from  the  deep  blue  dome  of  heaven  and  silvered  the 
sable  leaves  of  the  gloomy  wood.  The  night  air  cooled  and 
refreshed  the  fevered  Cortes,  as  on  he  strolled,  with  burning  brow 
bare,  through  the  pathless  depths  of  the  wild  wood,  with  its  thou- 
sand tangled  thickets  and  vine-wrapped  groves. 

Heedless  whither  he  wandered,  he  strayed  far  from  the  camp, 
until  before  him,  lifting  its  black  towers  high  over  the  giant  oaks, 
stood  a  great,  gloomy  building,  which  had  been  a  palace  or  castle, 
upon  whose  solid  walls  the  snow-white  moonbeams  fell,  which 
were  here  and  there  checkered  by  the  long,  leafy  boughs. 

The  fevered  general  paused  at  the  portal  of  the  vast  old  wreck, 
and  gazed  in,  but  all  was  gloom,  save  where  the  long,  moveless 
beams  of  the  moon  blanched  the  black  stone  of  the  floor,  as  it 
gleamed  through  the  apertures  of  the  lofty  walls. 

Cortes  advanced,  but  scarce  had  his  foot  pressed  the  solid  floor 
of  the  great  hall  within,  when,  gazing  upon  him  with  eyes  of 
fire  through  the  gloom,  he  beheld  the  pale  face  of  Guatemozin. 
Cortes  pressed  his  hand  across  his  eyes  and  brow,  for  an  instant, 
and  looking  up,  the  phantom  of  his  fancy  was  gone. 

He  strode  on  a  few  paces  more,  calmly,  when,  suddenly  upon 
the  mosaic  work  of  the  floor  before  him,  fell  the  dark  shadow  of 
a  man  in  a  loose  robe.  The  blood  of  Cortes  chilled  with  horror, 
as  casting  his  eyes  about,  he  beheld  a  figure  pass  outside  of  one 
of  the  open  portals  of  the  ruin,  and  upon  the  stone  pavement  a 
slow-paced  tread  was  heard.  Cortes  trembled  with  terror,  and 
turning,  fled  for  safety,  but  missing  his  way,  and  deceived  by  the 
moon  shining  through  the  wall,  he  rushed  into  another  part  of 
the  huge  building,  where  .he  was  completely  lost  and  bewildered 
in  the  immense  halls  of  the  ruins,  but,  hurrying  on  as  if  the 
fiend  were   at  his   heels,   he   missed   his  footing,   and  plunged 


346  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

headlong  into  a  gloomy  vault,  whose  open  mouth  looked  but  a  sin- 
gle step  deep,  but  proved  a  gulf,  into  which  Cortes  was  precipitated, 
and  fell  with  a  groan  senseless  to  the  bottom.  After  a  time  recov- 
ering, he  lay  moaning  with  agony  in  its  gloomy  depths.  Upon  a 
sudden,  a  form  appeared  at  the  edge  of  the  vault  above,  and 
said : 

"Who  moans  within  ?" 

"  I,"  answered  the  general,  **Aztec  friend,  for  I  know  thee  by 
thy  speech — I,  Cortes,  the  Christian  commander — aid  me,  for  the 
love  of  God,  aid  me !  for  my  bones  are  broken,  and  I  am  wounded 
to  the  death.  I  will  pay  thee  thy  weight  in  gold,  if  thou  wilt 
assist  me  out.  Good  friend,  for  God's  sake,  leave  me  not  here 
to  die !" 

The  figure  descended  by  a  flight  of  stone  steps,  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  vault  from  that  on  which  the  general  had  fallen, 
and  reaching  the  bottom,  lifted  in  his  arms  the  form  of  the  Span- 
iard, whose  limbs  were  sorely  bruised  but  not  broken,  and  bear- 
ing him  up  without  a  word,  the  stranger  ascended  the  steps  of 
the  vault,  and  was  soon  outside  of  the  old  ruin,  in  the  pallid 
blaze  of  the  moon,  where  he  laid  Cortes  upon  a  soft  bed  of  grass 
and  flowers. 

The  general  cast  his  eyes  upward,  and  his  face  became  ghastly, 
as  he  exclaimed : 

**  Thou  !  thou  !  Malmiztic  !  dread  being — for  the  sake  of  our 
Saviour,  spare  me ! — for  the  love  of  the  mother  of  Christ,  do  not 
destroy  me  !  Thou  hast  brought  me  forth  to  torture  me  !  to  rack 
me  !  to  burn  1  Oh,  heavenly  angels,  guard,  and  protect  me  !  Oh, 
dark,  dread  mortal,  spare  me  !  spare  me  P'  and  the  agonized 
Christian  clasped  his  hands  in  supplication,  while  a  look  of  in- 
tense pain  and  horror  glared  from  his  upturned  eyes. 

**  Thou  knowest  me,"  said  the  Toltec,  gravely  and  calmly ; 
**  enough — thou  art  the  gold-seeking  stranger  that  hath  wasted 
this  realm  ;  thou  art  he  who  can  cry  to  a  God  for  mercy,  and 
murder  a  nation  of  harmless  men  !  thou  couldst  shudder  at  idola- 
try and  its  rites,  yet  banquet  on  the  blood  of  a  thousand  human 
hearts  at  a  single  sacrifice  to  thy  ambition ; — and  yet  thou  canst 
pray ! — thou  canst  call  on  God  to  help  thee  in  thy  wretchedness, 
when  thou  hast  been  deaf  to  the  myriad  voices  of  woe,  whose 


THE   CAVALIERS   OP   THE   CROSS.  347 

cries  would  have  almost  made  the  mossy  rocks  of  this  ruin  shed 
tears  ! — and  yet  thou  canst  ask  mercy  !" 

"  Yea !"  exclaimed  Cortes,  with  agony  of  body  and  soul,  "  do 
not  kill  me,  I  entreat  thee !  I  beg  of  thee  to  grant  me  a  few 
more  hours  of  life  !  I  will  give  thee  all  I  have — but  let  me  live 
a  brief  space  longer  V 

**  Christian !"  said  the  Toltec,  distinctly,  but  sadly,  "it  is  not 
for  me  to  visit  on  thy  head  the  penalty  for  thy  multiplied  wrongs 
committed.  There  is  a  Power  whom  you  profess  to  serve,  and 
yet  know  not,  who  would  chasten  thee  by  sighs  and  remorse,  if 
thou  wert  permitted  to  live.  Thou  art  unfitted  to  die — the  hot 
blood  of  harmless  men  is  upon  thy  hands.  Let  tears  of  repent- 
ance pour  upon  them  like  rain  for  years,  it  will  scarce  remove 
the  stain.  Why,  then,  should  I  hurry  thee,  all  guilty  as  thou  art, 
to  an  untimely  grave  ?  No,  thou  hast  wronged  those  who  were 
most  dear  to  me,  yet  I  forgive  it  all.  The  bones  of  all  my  race 
are  long  since  buried,  and  the  noble  chief  of  the  people  with 
whom  I  had  linked  myself,  thou  hast  destroyed !  Grass  will  soon 
be  growing  where  the  body  of  Guatemozin  lies,  and  the  lone 
night-flower  will  be  the  mourner  that  will  hang  its  pensive  head 
in  darkness  and  drop  tears  upon  that  chieftain's  grave,  and  the 
wild  mocking-bird  will  haunt  that  shady  spot  when  his  spirit  will 
be  in  Paradise  ! 

"  One  of  his  race  yet  lives  with  faith  in  a  single  God,  who 
guards  her  more  safely  than  could  a  thousand  of  the  Aztec  idols. 
Enough  of  this  ;  I  will  bear  thee  close  to  thy  camp,  but  ere  we 
part,  I  will  charge  thee  one  thing  ; — seek  thy  way  no  farther 
south.  Mark  well  that  I  warn  thee  to  turn  thy  course  to  whence 
thou  earnest,  for  a  fatality  will  follow  thee  here,  which  will  be 
death  !  While  thou  hast  life,  pray  for  forgiveness,  ere  the  dark 
wing  of  destiny  shall  overshadow  thee,  and  close  out  the  light  of 
heaven  forever.  Therefore  mark  me,  Christian  !  make  thy  way 
towards  the  star  which  standeth  in  the  north  !  By  yonder  ely- 
sian  lake  of  Tayasal,  the  hand  of  fate  hath  drawn  across  thy  way 
an  airy  barrier  ;  seek  not  to  pass  it.  Beyond  this  point  no  good 
can  come  to  thee." 

With  these  words  the  powerful  Toltec  again  lifted  the  Spaniard 


348  THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS. 

in  his  arms,  and  bore  him  through  the  black  forest  within  call  of 
the  Christian  camp. 

"Here,"  said  Malmiztic,  *'  I  leave  thee,  and  this  is  all  the  re- 
venge that  Malmiztic,  the  last  of  the  Toltecs,  will  take  of  thee ; 
and  now,  farewell." 

**  Stay,  stay!"  exclaimed  Cortes,  earnestly;  "mysterious  man, 
or  angel  may  I  call  thee ;  canst  thou  forgive  me  ?  Wilt  thou 
forget  the  wrongs  that  my  rash  acts  have  done  to  thee,  and  those 
who  were  thy  friends?  Malmiztic,  I  am  miserable!  my  evil 
deeds  recoil  and  crush  me  like  a  mountain ;  horrors  haunt  me 
perpetually,  and  one  word  of  forgiveness  will  be  J|  balm  to  my 
burning  soul !"  1 

"  Christian !"  replied  the  other,"  the  dove-eyed  angel  of  mercy 
has  ever  a  smile  for  him  who  forgives  !  therefore,  I  write  all 
memories  of  thy  misdeeds  in  the  air  !  The  wind  of  oblivion 
that  sweeps  silently  by,  shall  bear  them  ojQf  forever — ^no  recollec- 
tion of  them  shall  linger  in  my  heart ;  but  when  the  lone  Toltec 
bows  his  knee  to  his  Maker,  that  thou  wert  once  his  foe  shall  be 
forgotten — and  even  thy  weal  shall  be  part  of  the  Toltec's 
prayer !  And  now,  we  part  to  meet  no  more  on  earth ;  yet,  in 
time  to  come,  beyond  the  region  of  yon  white-faced  moon,  we 
both  shall  meet  Him  who  made  us !  There,  Spaniard,  strive  to 
come  with  a  purer  soul,  and  thou  shalt  have  forgiveness  from 
Him  in  whom  this  lone  Toltec's  faith  and  hope  rest  for  happiness 
in  eternity  !" 

Malmiztic  fixed  his  large,  black  and  brilliant  eyes  upon  Cortes, 
but  the  Spaniard  could  not  speak — he  sat  upon  the  earth  weeping 
like  a  woman. 

The  majestic  Toltec  turned  slowly  away,  and  folding  his  dark 
and  graceful  mantle  about  him,  with  a  calm  dignity,  moved 
quietly  off  through  the  moonlight,  and  his  form  soon  faded  from 
sight  of  the  Christian  in  the  solemn  shadows  of  the  giant  forest 
trees. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII 


On  the  morrow,  the  army  of  Hernando  Cortes  were  making 
their  way  through  the  wilderness  toward  Mexico.  Before  they 
had  started  back  their  eyes  had  rested  upon  a  proud  pile  of 
palaces  whose  white  walls  glistened  like  polished  pearl,  and  were 
reflected  in  magic  beauty  upon  the  silver  surface  of  the  lovely 
lake  Tayasal. 

The  curious  cavaliers  would  fain  have  made  their  way  to  this 
Eden  island,  upon  which  the  snowy  palaces  lifted  themselves 
aloft  in  the  midst  of  the  magic  lake,  but  Cortes  commanded  his 
army  to  move  on  towards  Tenochtitlan,  and  the  fairy  scene  faded 
away. 

Oft  did  the  alternate  light  and  shadow  of  day  and  night  checker 
the  earth,  ere  that  army  reached  their  destined  goal.  Toilsome 
leagues  were  traversed,  through  changes  from  low,  hot  plains,  to 
high  and  frozen  mountains,  but  the  strangest  change  which  those 
soldiers  saw  was  in  Hernando  Cortes.  One  who  followed  him  at 
that  time,  thus  speaks : 

"  It  made  me  melancholy  to  find  him  so  weak  and  reduced. 
Distress  and  disease  had  worn  him  down.  Indeed,  he  expected 
death,  and  had  gotten  a  Franciscan  habit  made  to  be  buried  in."* 

The  conqueror  reached  the  capital,  and  soon  he  and  his  fol- 
lowers were  prepared  to  bid  adieu,  for  a  time,  to  New  Spain  of 
the  Ocean  Sea,  and  return  once  more  to  their  long-sighed-for 
homes  in  Andalusia. 

He  reached  Vera  Cruz  thin  and  squalid,  but  still  bearing  with 
him  that  invincible  banner,  with  its  motto,  "Amici,  crucem  sequa- 
mur  et  in  hoc  signo  vincemus.'* 

Within  a  monastery  which  he  had  established  at  this  place,  the 


*  Bernal  Diaz. 

(349) 


350  MALMIZTIC,  THE   TOLTEC  ;    AND 

Spaniard  retired  to  pray,  but  sackcloth  and  sorrow  removed  not 
the  burthen  which  lay  heavily  upon  his  soul. 

Far  over  the  blue  waters  of  the  almost  unknown  Atlantic,  the 
general  took  his  course,  with  his  brown-visaged  veterans,  leaving 
behind  them  the  land  of  the  aloe  and  the  palm,  and  with  their 
eyes  stretched  forward  to  behold  the  realm  of  the  olive  and  the 
vine. 

But  why  linger  to  speak  of  the  anxious  days  spent  in  plough- 
ing the  monotonous  ocean?  They  reached  the  home  of  their 
hearts — the  faces  of  friends  were  before  them,  and  eagerly  around 
every  one  of  the  cavaliers  came  crowds,  curious  to  hear  the  tales 
of  the  strange  lands  of  the  western  world. 

But  sad  was  the  fate  of  the  gallant  young  Sandoval — the  green 
hills  of  his  native  land  had  scarcely  blessed  his  vision,  when  the 
silent  messenger  of  death  came,  and  whispering  in  his  ear,  beck- 
oned the  spirit  of  the  young  soldier  to  follow  to  the  dim  land 
of  dreams. 

It  was  hard  to  be  called  away  after  the  stormy  days  of  danger 
were  passed,  and  the  black  battle-clouds  of  the  Aztec  land 
cleared  up  in  the  sweet  sunshine  of  home;  —  and  where  the 
youthful  hero  had  hoped  for  honor  and  renown,  he  found  a  nar- 
row bed  in  a  valley  where  green  grass,  freckled  with  flowers,  lay 
like  a  mantle  on  his  last  resting-place. 

Who  shall  tell  the  high  honors  which  were  heaped  upon  Her- 
nando Cortes  ?  Triumphant  success  had-  silenced  every  enemy. 
The  thunders  of  Fonseca,  the  bishop  of  Burgos,  had  rolled  away 
and  died  in  the  distance.  The  Emperor  Charles  entertained  him 
in  his  palace  ;  the  highest  nobles  were  proud  to  know  him.  As 
he  moved  through  the  streets  of  the  cities,  wondering  multitudes 
came  forth  to  gaze  upon  the  mighty  conqueror  of  a  new  world. 

Daily  were  honors  of  state  and  court  bestowed  upon  the  cham- 
pion of  Spanish  chivalry.  The  monarch  conferred  with  pride 
orders  and  titles  upon  him  ;  and  not  only  old  Spain,  but  all 
Europe  rang  with  the  name  of  Hernando  Cortes.  His  glorious 
achievements  and  prodigies  of  valor  were  the  theme  of  every 
courtly  circle,  and  when  he  was  prepared  to  depart  once  more 
for  the  shores  of  the  realm  whose  entire  government  was  given 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  361 

to  him,  multitudes  assembled  to  cry,  **  God  and  the  Virgin  safely 
speed  the  great  Cortes  to  the  new  kingdom  of  the  west." 

He  came  again  to  Mexico  and  gathered  a  brilliant  court  about 
him,  amid  which  shone,  like  a  star,  the  handsome  and  valiant 
knight,  Don  Pedro  de  Alvarado,  who  had  brought  a  bride,  young 
and  beautiful,  from  his  father-land. 

Time  passed  on,  and  Alvarado  grew  weary  of  still  being 
second  to  the  distinguished  Cortes — so,  bidding  farewell  to  his 
commander,  he  departed  into  Guatemala,  where  he  fitted  out  with 
his  great  wealth  a  fleet  of  thirteen  beautiful  ships,  with  which  he 
confidently  hoped  to  find,  in  the  untraversed  waste  of  the  great 
Pacific,  some  other  new  world,  which  would  afford  a  field  worthy 
of  the  conquest  of  Alvarado.  But  a  volcano  in  that  strange 
land  burst  forth  suddenly,  and  a  torrent  of  fire  and  mud  buried 
the  village  which  he  had  built,  and  in  the  overwhelming  deluge 
was  lost  his  young  and  lovely  bride. 

Scarce  had  this  terrific  blow  fallen  upon  him,  when  he  heard 
of  a  friend  in  jeopardy  from  the  fierce  native  foes,  and  he  flew  to 
rescue  him ; — but  the  knight  who  had  breasted  a  hundred  storms 
never  returned  !  Thus  perished  the  proud  Alvarado,  whom  the 
Aztecs  had  sumamed  the  **Sun,"  from  his  splendid  and  shining 
figure  in  the  field. 

Thus  scattered,  in  Spain  and  America,  the  various  members  of 
that  wonderful  company  of  adventurers  disappeared,  and  died  all 
poor  !  after  having  robbed  the  treasure-house  of  the  world ! 

Thus  does  flattering  fortune,  fickle  as  she  is  in  the  long  run, 
make  ill-gotten  wealth  melt  in  the  holder's  hand. 

Upon  the  conqueror,  in  person,  she  heaped  riches  and  power — 
but  happiness  made  not  her  home  in  his  heart.  Around  him,  in 
all  their  gorgeousness,  were  the  gilded  emblems  of  riches,  but 
poor  indeed  was  the  spirit  before  whom  this  splendid  pageant 
was  spread. 

Glory  had  sounded  his  name  upon  her  trumpet  to  the  ears  of 
the  world,  but  heavily  it  echoed  through  his  heart.  While  others 
praised  his  almost  miraculous  exploits,  the  hero  pined,  and  heard 
the  voice  of  laudation  with  pain.  The  blazing  Cross  which  he 
had  borne,  was  bloody;  his  golden  banner  blushed  with  a 
crimson  stain,   and  the  high  mass  which  made  the  new  and 


352  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ,*    AND 

rich  cathedrals  ring,  sounded  heavy  and  mournful  in  his 
ears. 

He  had  now  established  the  objects  of  his  ambition :  fortune, 
power,  and  religion — a  fortune,  where  gold  glared  upon  him  at 
every  step,  dazzling  and  oppressive — a  power,  which  afforded  no 
pleasure  to  exercise  or  wield — a  religion,  that  gave  the  soul  no 
rest,  whose  absolution  was  a  hollow  form,  and  satisfied  not  the 
stings  of  conscience  and  the  misgivings  of  a  guilty  mind. 

Though  he  lifted  the  spire  of  a  cathedral  to  the  clouds,  it 
would  not  atone  for  a  single  low  hut  of  a  poor  Aztec  fisherman, 
burnt  ruthlessly  by  the  margin  of  the  blue  Tezcuco.  Like  that 
bitter  drug,  one  drop  of  which  impregnates  a  thousand  gallons 
of  water,  did  the  memory  of  each  single  wrongful  action  embitter 
every  hour  of  his  meditation. 

Like  a  corse  arrayed  in  costly  apparel,  a  dead  king,  shrouded 
in  his  robes  of  state,  was  Hernando  Cortes.  Around  him  now 
teemed  all  things  that  seemed  desirable,  but  the  heart  of  enjoy- 
ment was  dead  and  cold  within  him.  As  a  sick  man  turns  away 
from  the  rarest  viands,  his  appetite  lost,  so,  tasteless  and  loath- 
some, became  all  objects  for  which  he  had  toiled. 

He  had  climbed  to  the  pinnacle  of  the  mountain  of  power,  and 
the  atmosphere  chilled  him  to  the  core.  The  illusions  of  his  life 
were  as  icebergs,  which  glittered  with  rainbow  splendors  in  the  dis- 
tance, and  froze  him  when  he  touched  their  bright  but  icy  beauties. 

Thus,  life  with  him  had  been  a  night  of  brilliant  and  hopeful 
dreams  ;  but  when  the  grey  dawn  of  reality  broke  upon  him,  all 
that  was  beautiful  became  bleak,  and  the  rosy  troop  of  hours  that 
danced  in  the  Eden  of  the  coming  time,  upon  a  bed  of  blossoms, 
changed  to  sheeted  spectres,  who  moved  to  solemn  phantom  dirges 
and  death  marches,  amid  the  tombstones  of  many  graves. 

Gold  and  glory,  like  two  marble  statues,  stood  in  his  palace- 
hall,  but  the  bright-eyed  twin  angels,  hope  and  happiness,  opened 
his  pprtal,  and  passed  out  forever  ! 

Deep  was  the  gloom  that  shrouded  his  greatness.  There  was 
no  sunlight  around  him ;  the  glad  and  natural  beams  of  bHss 
blessed  not  his  sight,  but  his  soul  dwelt  in  a  dark  cavern,  illu- 
mined by  an  unearthly  lustre  from  a  sun  of  gold,  spotted  with  a 
nation's  blood !  • 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  353 

The  night- wind  which  swept  over  the  silent  waters  of  Tezcuco, 
bore  through  the  valley  the  wail  of  many  voices,  and  even  amid 
the  clear  hours  of  the  brightest  noon,  sorrowing  spirits  sighed  in 
his  ear  as  he  passed,  and  whispered  their  melancholy  tales  in  his 
unwilling  hearing.  False  was  the  human  maxim  which  said  that 
*'  dead  men  tell  no  tales  ;"  even  amidst  crowds  the  sufferer  could 
hear  them,  when  all  the  multitude  beside  were  deaf. 

Deathless  conscience  revived  the  pictures  of  the  past,  and  as 
memory  unrolled  the  canvas,  bloody  deeds  were  shadowed  forth 
n  all  their  terror,  and  pallid  horrors  became  immortal ! 
******* 

Aztec  Mexico  was  no  more — for  a  new  ruler  made  a  new 
realm; — a  conqueror  held  it  as  his  capital  and  court — a  con- 
queror with  the  titles  of  lord  and  marquis ;  in  himself  an  empe- 
ror, in  state,  power,  and  magnificence ;  and  where  the  black  smoke 
rolled  up  from  the  pagan  Teocallis  to  the  blue  skies,  the  yellow 
glittering  spire  of  a  Christian  Cathedral  now  shot  aloft  in  the 
aunshine,  and  the  splendid  throne  of  the  line  of  the  Montezumas 
made  way  for  the  regal  chair  of  the  Castilian  Cortes. 

For  years  he  held  this  lofty  state — years  of  exalted  misery  and 
uneasy  eminence.  Avarice  and  ambition,  the  twin  spirits  of  his 
heart,  brought  their  stores  to  his  feet,  and  he  drew  forth,  as  from 
Pandora's  box,  all  tlie  glittering  gems  which  dazzle  earthly 
vision ;  but  when  the  casket  was  searched  to  the  bottom,  the  long- 
looked  for  jewels  of  happiness  and  contentment  were  gone — the 
satisfying  talisman  of  content,  which  the  eye  of  expectancy  beheld 
blazing,  like  the  polar  star  upon  the  horizon  of  the  future,  proved 
a  phosphoric  and  evanescent  wild-fire,  which  led  the  deceived 
soul  into  pit-falls,  bogs  and  quicksands  ;  and  the  halcyon  shell  of 
happiness,  which  rode  the  silver  waves  of  a  sea  of  promise,  furled 
its  fairy  sails  in  the  sunshine,  and  sank  to  rise  no  more. 

The  syren,  whose  spell  had  lured  the  heart  of  Hernando  Cortes 
from  the  path  of  virtue  and  mercy,  and  wooed  him  with  her  rosy 
lips  to  meet  her  extatic  embrace,  changed  suddenly  as  th^  shape 
of  Actseon,  and  became  a  pillar  of  ice  in  his  arms ! — and  thus, 
even  amid  all  the  proudest  pleasures  of  existence,  the  spectre  of 
woe  haunted  him,  and  distress  destroyed  the  promised  bliss  of 
being. 

30  ' 


/ 


364  MALMIZTIC,    THE    TOLTEC  ;    AND 

But  why  dwell  thus  in  the  shadowy  land  of  sorrow?  The 
conqueror,  sick  of  his  gilded  glories,  turns  for  the  last  time  to  his 
native  land,  and  in  the  fair  city  of  Cuesta,  the  load  of  life  grown 
wearisome,  is  laid  down,  and  the  spirit  departs  to  answer  for  its 
actions  in  its  house  of  clay,  which  it  had  inhabited  for  two  and 
sixty  years. 

The  body  which  had  received  such  earthly  favors  in  life,  was 
not  unhonored  in  its  ashes.  In  the  beautiful  chapel  of  the  great 
and  powerful  Duke  of  Medina  Sidonia,  the  mortal  remains  were 
deposited — and  in  after  years,  when  the  wondrous  deeds  of  the 
triumphant  Cavalier  of  the  Cross  were  yet  the  wonder  and  admi- 
ration of  Europe,  the  Spanish  powers  transferred  the  mouldering 
remains  of  this  hero  of  Spanish  history,  from  his  native  shore,  to 
the  land  of  his  conquest,  and  in  the  Mexican  city  of  Tezcuco,  by 
the  matchless  lake  of  beauty,  stood  a  temple  crowned  with  the 
Cross  and  within  its  sacred  precincts  the  dust  was  deposited,  with 
all  the  solemn  gorgeousness  of  procession,  mass,  and  mournful 
anthem,  and  amid  the  trophies  which  decorated  the  sacred  aisles, 
were  rare  relics,  and  chief  among  them  shone  his  own  crest  of 
arms,  a  chain,  inwrought  with  the  heads  of  seven  kings,  whom  he 
had  conquered. 

And  there  sleeps  the  chief  of  the  conquerors  of  the  Golden 
Realm. 

****** 

In  the  heart  of  Guatemala,  where  cities  of  a  forgotten  people 
lay  buried  under  the  mould  of  ages,  and  overshadowed  by  the 
impenetrable  verdure,  lay  a  bright  lake  of  silver,  the  transparent 
Tayasal.  Around  its  margin  spread  a  wilderness,  where  ancient 
ruins,  half  hidden,  lifted  their  mossy  and  shattered  columns 
among  the  great  trunks  of  monster  trees. 

In  the  centre  of  this  round  and  shining  sheet  of  water,  smiled 
a  sweet  little  green  isle,  and  from  it  a  tall,  snow-white  palace 
reared  its  polished  pillars  aloft  in  the  face  of  the  purple  skies  of 
that  southern  clime.  Upon  this  Elysian  island  a  second  Eden 
bloomed,  where  lavish  nature  exhausted  her  gorgeous  store  of 
beauties ;  where  the  strange  tree  stood,  whose  leafy  boughs,  in 
the  golden  blaze  of  noon,  distilled  perpetually  a  perfumed 
dew,   and  softly  showered  ambrosial  sweetness  from   its   cool, 


THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS.  366 

refreshing  leaves  ;  where  the  crimson  cactus,  with  its  snake-like 
folds,  held  up  its  open  cups  to  catch  those  delicious  dews  as  they 
dropped  from  the  overhanging  trees ;  where  dancing  dahlias 
nodded  their  many-colored  heads,  and  the  brilliant  roses 
blushed  in  their  wild  beauty  ;  where  butterflies,  with  gold-barred 
bodies  and  bright  crimson  wings,  fluttered  through  the  air,  or 
touched  on  flowers  with  their  velvet  feet,  and  from  the  trumpets 
of  the  blossoms  sucked  the  hidden  nectar. 

In  the  midst  of  greenest  trees,  the  blazing  bodies  of  parrots 
and  macaws  gleamed  like  scarlet  fires,  or  flashed  blue  as  burn- 
ished steel.  And  like  winged  fairies  of  the  air,  green  and  shining 
humming-birds  glanced  along  swifter  than  the  sunbeams  through 
which  they  darted. 

When  the  spangled  veil  of  night  floated  along  the  sky,  and  its 
starry  gems  flashed  down  their  radiance  on  the  sable  forest,  or 
the  pearl-faced  moon  looked  at  her  image  in  the  lake,  until  the 
loving  waters  smiled  beneath  her  glance,  the  magical  mocking- 
bird would  awaken  his  song  of  enchantment,  and  like  a  chorus 
of  vestals  at  vespers,  voices  would  break  forth  from  every  bush 
and  dark  vanilla  bower,  until  the  silent  air  became  alive  with  a 
thousand  tongues  of  music,  warbling  an  ever-changing  hymn  of 
harmony. 

Within  that  snow-white  palace.  Love  and  Joy  made  their  dwell- 
ing-place. It  was  not  the  rare  and  measureless  wealth  which 
made  those  chambers  blaze  with  beauty  and  magnificence,  which 
won  Love  and  Joy  to  dwell  within  its  walls ; — it  was  not  the  bright- 
tinted  pictures  which  decorated  each  chamber,  the  solemn  and 
chaste  statues  which  stood  in  their  quiet  niches,  nor  the  illumin- 
ated folios  whose  gilded  rows  filled  many  a  spacious  recess  ; — 
but  it  was  one  sacred  volume,  clasped  with  gold  and  studded  with 
diamonds — the  mystic  Book  of  Revelation,  whose  precepts  the 
dwellers  in  that  palace  delighted  in — that  made  angel-eyed  Love 
and  sunny-faced  Joy  rove  hand  in  hand  through  those  happy 
halls. 

Of  mortals,  but  three  had  their  homes  therein — one,  a  bright- 
visaged  dwarf,  with  nestling,  nut-brown  curls,  who,  with  a  lute- 
like instrument,  played  exquisite  strains,  as  he  gazed  up  into  the 
faces  of  the  twain  at  whose  feet  he  sat.     Of  these,  one  was  a 


i 


366  THE  CAVALIERS  OF  THE  CROSS. 

woman,  beautiful  as  the  rare  hand  of  nature  could  mould  her  in 
form  and  feature  ;  and  as  the  cunning  painters  of  antiquity  por- 
trayed angels,  light  was  all  around  her,  and  sunshine  in  her  face ; 
her  head  rested  upon  the  broad  shoulders  of  one  upon  whose 
glorious  and  majestic  face  her  upturned  orbs  were  fixed,  and 
from  his  dark  and  unfathomable  eyes  a  quiet  smile  looked  out 
like  a  mermaid  from  her  ocean  cave.  And  over  the  pair  a  spirit's 
eye  might  see  spread  out  the  rainbow  wings  of  Happiness,  the 
angel  whose  radiant  countenance  illumined  the  home  of  Malmiz- 

TIC THE    LAST    OF    THE   ToLTECS. 


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Renewals    and    recharges    may    be    made    4    days 

prior  to  due  date 

DUE  AS  STAMPED  BELOW 


DEC  1  3  mh 


RETURrslED 


FEB  1  4  199S 


r-HP.ta  Crur.  Jitney 


20,000  (4/94) 


YB  74538 


6O21T0 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  UBRARY 


